«THAT YOU MAY APPROVE THE THINGS THAT ARE EXCELLENT»
«That your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent» (Philippians 1:9, 10, NKJV).
ACCORDING TO BRETT MCCRACKEN, we live in the age of «information gluttony.» We have at our fingertips an exponential amount of data that saturates and overwhelms us. Every minute more than two hundred million emails and about twenty million text messages are sent, and over five million videos are watched on YouTube.
Research conducted by McCracken predicts that «by 2025, 463 exabytes of data will be created each day online—the equivalent to 212,765,957 DVDs per day. What even is an exabyte? Well, consider this: five exabytes is the equivalent to all words ever spoken by humans since the dawn of time. In 2025, that amount of data will be created every 15 minutes.»
McCracken then adds that «too much information» online makes us, among other things, «disoriented» people. That is, we have more information than ever before in human history, but we also have less guidance, and that leads us to be hesitant, anxious, and unable to make decisions. The vast amount of information available on the Internet bewilders us and leads us to disorientation. The Bible tells us that: «In the multitude of words sin is not lacking» (Proverbs 10:19).
In the face of our inevitable contact with that ocean of information, let’s consider Paul’s advice: «Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ» (Colossians 2:8).
Let’s take a closer look at what the apostle is saying. Is Paul against human traditions? No. What Paul rejects are opinions and principles that are «not according to Christ.» Therefore, Christ is the filter that lets us accept or reject any information.
The message to the Philippians is more relevant today than in any other time in history: «And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ» (Philippians 1:9, 10).
If, in the midst of so much information, we approve of what is excellent, that which is in accordance and in harmony with Christ, we will not succumb to gluttony or misled.
www.meditacionesdiarias.com
https://twitter.com/meditacionesdi1
http://www.instagram.com/meditacionesdiarias7
Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Angelica Cuate