SEEKING BETTER THINGS

"By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. . . . But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6)

Devotion 9 of 26

APPROVING THINGS THAT ARE EXCELLENT

It is not enough for "better things" to simply be provided. They are to be discerned and apprehended by believers. Because we occupy a spiritual war zone, considerable effort is required to lay hold of "better things." Knowing this, the Apostle prayed for believers. "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; THAT YE MAY APPROVE THINGS THAT ARE EXCELLENT; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God" (Phil 1:9-11).

Notice the requirements for approving "things that are excellent": "ABOUNDING yet more and more in knowledge and in ALL judgement (discernment, NASB, depth of insight, NIV)." The word "abound" comes from a word meaning "to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous; also to cause to superabound or excel . . . " (Strongs). It is like a sudden burst of spiritual growth; something we sorely need! How arresting is this prayer in a day marked by spiritual mediocrity!

And, in what are we to "abound," increasing with superabundance? Our "love" is to explode into an abundance of knowledge and judgment, or discernment. How rare these spiritual qualities are in our time. We must not be indifferent to the meagerness of their existence! They are requisite to the appropriation of "things that are excellent." Their absence means "things that are excellent" cannot be approved or obtained!

It is not that excellent things are purposely hidden from our view. Rather, they are surrounded by distractions and spiritual inferiority. Their very existence is questioned if we do not rise into the heavenlies! Deluded by appearance, multitudes are racing toward destruction-- ignoring "better things" that can provide joyful incentive to "lay hold on eternal life."

If you want the things that are "excellent," you must know about them! If you are to enjoy them, you must be able to perceive them. What is more, if your knowledge and judgment do not "abound" beyond the sphere of the mediocre, you will not be able to see or appropriate these "excellent" things. In other words, if the people of God are not growing, they are unable to "approve things that are excellent." Of course, they do not become totally indifferent to the things around them. While they do not approve things that are "excellent," they DO approve things that are NOT excellent. That sets them on the broad road that leads to destruction!

Every believer and every assembly should be known for "approving things that are excellent." Too often, professed believers are noted for choosing what is flawed, inferior, and even contaminating. Such choices are not innocent. They have been made in a time when "better things" have been made accessible to the sons of men. To "approve" means to discern; to discover the true nature of things through insightful examination. God's people can and must do this. It is requisite to faithfulness and obtaining the exceeding great and precious promises of God.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I want to perceive and appropriate things that are excellent--things provided by Your grace and through Your redemption. In the name of Jesus, I ask You to enable me to see them and obtain them.

-- Tomorrow: BETTERNESS IN ABUNDANCE --