The verse that really caught my
attention and challenged me this week is Philippians 1:20 … Paul speaking (from
prison) …
It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to
shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be
exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death.
Then the next verse reads …
For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.
Living for Christ … living for
Jesus … living in such a way that Christ is exalted … what does that mean (on a
day-by-day basis)?
For this, I think, is the unique
reason why we gather together – to learn (together) how to live for Jesus.
We should first put these verses
in context. Let us go back to the start of this letter.
Philippians 1:1-2
Paul had earlier founded and
planted the church in Philippi, and now was taking the chance, despite being in
prison elsewhere, to write a letter to those who were part of this church – for
their enrichment and encouragement and discipleship.
Two words are used in the first
verse of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, that first describes Paul and
Timothy’s relationship with Jesus, and then secondly describes all of our
relationship with Jesus. The words are doulos – translated “servant or
slave”, and hagios – generally translated “saint or holy one”, but
really meaning more “set apart one” … i.e. the one who is set apart (for a
purpose). These are serious words! To call themselves “servants”, indicates
that Paul and Timothy had voluntarily renounced their right to live according
to their own inclinations, so that they could follow precisely and utterly in the
Jesus way, just as if they had no real choice in the matter. This requires
great humility, that allows a person to be an instrument in the hands of the
Great Musician. To refer to the members of the church in Philippi as “saints”
indicates that Paul considered that these Philippians were likewise “set apart”
… “separated” from evil and “set apart” for God’s purposes above all else. This
is not an elevated human holier-than-thou type implied goodness, but a
specific relational connection to Christ Jesus – “saints in Christ Jesus”. This
offers a good context for what follows.
Philippians 1:3-8
Then, Paul went on to commend the
church in Philippi for their effort in sharing the Gospel. This was a cause of
thankfulness and joy for Paul (v.3-5). Not only this, but Paul reflected that
because the church in Philippi was so committed to the sharing of the Gospel,
together with their concern and care for Paul himself, that this would lead to
their own maturity (refer verse 6).
Philippians 1:9-11
As we read verses 9 to 11, we
sense that these words are not a prayer based on wishful thinking, but
rather are a prayerful blessing that contained a confident expectation of what
was certain (if the church in Philippi continued in the way they had begun).
These are indeed great expectations! Part of this ultimate maturity was the
dynamic of “having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through
Jesus Christ …”. What does that mean?? Right living made possible through the
grace of God in the work of Jesus purposefully expressed in the successful
(i.e. “harvest”) sharing of the Gospel.
Philippians 1:12-14
Paul goes on to reflect that his
own sharing of the Gospel, under great difficulty, had led to some great
outcomes, both inside and outside the prison that he was in (v.12-14). Paul’s
imprisonment actually opened the doors of opportunity. This is a lesson to us
that the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus should not be restricted to only when
things are going well. In fact, finding authentic ways to share the Gospel under
suffering is actually far more powerful and effective than when life is easy.
Yes times can be tough, but we are seeing how God is embracing our suffering,
and how God is gently nurturing our way through and forward, and how we may
come out better people. Old time commentator G Campbell Morgan talks about
adverse conditions being made allies of the soul (and ministers of victory) in
the hands of God.
Also, Paul’s sharing of the
message of Jesus under duress had emboldened others to do the same. We are to
be that sort of community … a community that emboldens each other (through both
encouragement and example). In verses 15-18, Paul reflects on some of the
motivations behind sharing Christ, which are not always pure; then returns to
his major theme.
Philippians 1:18-26
Paul, especially under hardship,
wants Christ to be “exalted” (v.20) … which means to be ‘magnified, lifted up,
revered, honoured, praised, worshipped’. When people look at him, and how he’s
handling life (especially life at its hardest), Paul wants people to see Jesus.
Wherever he is, and whoever he is with, Paul wants to make Jesus visible. Even
though death would bring Paul out of his torment and into his eternal reward,
Paul acknowledges that striving hard through life has with it God’s ultimate
purpose – termed “fruitful labour” in verse 22 (i.e. ministry, missionary
activity). We should note that Paul will not “exalt” Jesus himself (in his own
courage), but that, through how Paul handles certain circumstances, Jesus will
be “exalted” – meaning the Spirit of God will be at work in this and be
bringing about the good results.
Yet the person involved needs to
be willing. And given the depth of pressure Paul is under, it’s still a
determination that he needs to consciously and publicly make. Understanding
that to die while already knowing Jesus is a gain … in that he will then be
with Jesus (v.21), Paul had to decide that it was still worth striving to
survive. This is a mindset thing – for it is important how we view our
situation if we are going to get through it in the way that we can and should.
It’s worth reflecting on verses 23 & 24 where the options are laid out. But
by the time Paul expresses himself the way he does in verse 24, he has really
gained perspective and confronted himself with the only position that he can
really take – to persevere, and make Jesus known … for the sake of others. Thus
negative circumstances have been turned into opportunities of ministry.
Decision made … read verses 25
& 26! So ‘living for Jesus’ rises above all circumstances – negative or
positive. ‘Living for Jesus’ declares a sort of independence from situational
circumstances. This is how there can be a joy, that is not easily understood
for those trapped in their lost-ness, yet is nonetheless noticed.
Philippians 1:27-30
Paul goes on to point out to the
church in Philippi, that this ‘living for Christ’ is not something that is just
done individually, but also should be done collectively with joint effort and
teamwork (v.27-28). The collective ‘body of Christ’ stands firm in the unity of
the Spirit of God, and strives to offer a ministry side-by-side in a
single-minded faith response to the Gospel of Jesus. This is not to say that
everyone necessarily thinks the same, but rather that they creatively bring
their diverse thinking together into a cohesive collective whole. Such a church
body will not be intimidated, diverted, distracted or disrupted by any
opponents of any description. This will be a great testimony to the seriousness
and authenticity of the church’s cause.
After all, while certain
historians can be dubious about the actual evidence for Jesus’ resurrection,
they remain significantly impressed and swayed by the surety and active
commitment displayed by those who did obviously believe in resurrection of
Jesus (right to the extent of enduring persecution and even dying for this
cause) … those who were involved in the rapid growth of the first century
Christian movement. In this way, according to Paul (v.29), suffering in the
name of Jesus is part of the deal of faith and of being God’s children – part
of the extension of God’s Kingdom.
[Where we feel nervous about
sharing Jesus’ suffering like Paul was, we know that Jesus also shares our
suffering. Paul knew this, because on the day of his conversion on the Damascus
Road, when Jesus was holding him accountable for persecuting Christians, Jesus
said to Paul … “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5).]
If we truly want to live for
Christ, then I think that we have to know Christ, and the best thing we can be
spending our time on is talking about and learning about Jesus. This is how we
truly discover who we are and why we are here.
Prayer:
Lord God,
Forgive us for making life all
about what we expect;
And guide us in learning to
live for Christ,
Whatever circumstances come
upon us.
Amen!
The process of discipleship,
toward the reality of living for Jesus, has been expressed this way:
Jesus, take me as I am,
I can come no other way.
Take me deeper into You,
Make my flesh life melt away.
Make me like a precious stone,
Crystal clear and finely honed,
Life of Jesus shining through,
Giving glory back to You.
(Words by Dave Bryant)
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