Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. Philippians 1:27
His Truth Is Marching On
The book of Philippians was written by Paul when he was in jail. He was in house arrest in Rome, and he had been arrested for religious troublemaking – preaching the Gospel. Paul knew that a judgment would be coming soon that could even result in his execution. While he was in house arrest, he continued to preach the gospel to everyone he came in contact with, while still continuing to encourage and lead the growth of the churches he’d planted. He is writing to the church in Philippi and encouraging them to keep doing what he was doing before he was imprisoned.
Paul reminds the church in Philippi of their partnership with each other and with him and that the work of the Gospel never ends. It is a responsibility of Christians that will never be completed as long as time goes on. Earlier in the chapter, Paul tells them that God started this work in them and that He would be faithful to complete it. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
Now that Paul is in prison, He wants them to know that prison will not stop the Gospel from moving forward. He urges them to continue spreading the Gospel as they have been doing. He tells them that whether he is with them or not, he wants to hear of them standing firm, side by side, not afraid of anything, while advancing the Gospel. Even though he may be in jail, that won’t stop the advancement of the Gospel. In fact, it only serves to spread it more. His imprisonment has given power to his testimony and even though Paul cannot physically go out and spread the Gospel, while he is in jail, he is spreading it to everyone he can. I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Philippians 1:12-14
Paul’s life and testimony are an example to us of how God uses our pain for our good and for His glory. Paul did not let prison stop him from preaching God’s word to everyone he came in contact with. We may not be in prison and facing death like Paul, but we become so wrapped up in our lives that we forget to do the work of advancing the Gospel. How much easier would it be for you and me to do this than it was for Paul? Yet he found a way.
What do you allow to keep you from advancing the Gospel? The early Christians were zealous and passionate about telling others of this great gift. They set the example, but they put us to shame. We let so many things keep us from working to make sure others know the good news. We go to church and Bible study. We meet our Christian friends for coffee. When was the last time you shared the Gospel with someone who was not a Christian? Pouring into our church friends is needed and important, but it is in our comfort zone. Prison was not comfortable. Facing death was not comfortable. Like Paul and so many that were striving by his side, we need to be willing to be uncomfortable to spread the Gospel, and count it joy.
