Day of Christ. Philippians 1:10. “That ye may prove things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.” Would I do the same tomorrow as I have today if I were sure the Lord would come at 10 o’clock? Would I live in mediocrity, or would I change my plans to ensure everyone knows the Lord’s Coming is near? Would I pray the same way when making intercession? Would I bring more Gospel into my regular conversations? Would I think the same thoughts during my personal devotions? Would I have written these same words, or am I simply going through the motions?
I pray I will always keep God’s people in my thoughts and prayers, and my love for them will show just as much as theirs shows for me. I want my knowledge of God and His word to grow, and I pray that common sense guided by the Spirit will lead me down paths of wisdom and righteousness. I need to test everything I say and do against the word of God, ensuring what I tell others is biblical and true. Some things might be different from what I am used to. I want to be sure that what I take in is what God wants me to see.
The Day of Christ may be closer than I think because it could be today. We might be on the verge of that first moment when we see Jesus and gaze upon His face. I have wondered if my fingers will be able to trace the nail marks in His hands. “Lord, help me to be sincere and not fill my cracks with wax. I ask Thee to keep me from offending others and help me stay faithful to You.” I don’t want to hide things; the Lord may come at any moment. When I see my Lord’s face, I want His light to shine through me.
With genuine integrity before God and men, I should be wholeheartedly committed to doing what is right under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. The outcomes of righteousness in life will bring glory and praise to God. God is honored when I am willing to do what exalts Him in every part of my daily life. There are character traits that we should develop to "escape the corruption of this world." When we add to faith, virtue—excellence—spiritual intelligence and knowledge will appear. Self-control and perseverance in God's ways come next. Holy dignity leads to sincere affection for others, and Christian love is genuine. The qualities we should cultivate are the fruits of righteousness that prevent us from being idle and unproductive in our lives.
God is glorified when such a prayer is answered, and praise is given to Him alone. This prayer is for everyone, not just a few, and when Christ is honored and God is glorified, grateful believers who love the Lord naturally respond with joy for His saving and sustaining grace.