Philippians 1:27-30 Amplified Bible
27 Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit [and one purpose], with one [a]mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel. 28 And in no way be alarmed or intimidated [in anything] by your opponents, for such [constancy and fearlessness on your part] is a [clear] sign [a proof and a seal] for them of [their impending] destruction, but [a clear sign] for you of deliverance and salvation, and that too, from God. 29 For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake, not only to believe and confidently trust in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 [and so you are] experiencing the same [kind of] conflict which [b]you saw me endure, and which you hear to be mine now.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Here, Apostle Paul focuses on how we represent the gospel in our lives. This is a personal challenge on how we reflect and defend the faith of the Gospel (v28).
While Paul is chained to a Roman soldier, he saw this as our primary purpose as God’s believers here and now. This idea builds up to Philippians 2:15 writing:
‘that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked, and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world’
In this 21st century technology dependent age, we need to raise our awareness level and realize that as believers, we are on full satellite display to the world.
How we reflect the gospel is important.
Is our ‘conduct’… ‘worthy of the gospel of Christ’? (1:27).
I like this poem:
You are writing a Gospel,
A chapter each day,
By the deeds that you do
And the words that you say.
Men read what you write,
Whether faithful or true:
Just what is the Gospel
According to you?
(source unknown)
The best Christian witnessing material, whether tracts or YouTube links are no substitute for your own Biblically correct witness, by the way you live your life.
In a number of places Apostle Paul continually reminded the church:
‘walk worthy of the Lord’ (Col 1:10)
‘walk worthy of your calling’ (Eph 4:1)
This representation can also be carried into Christian unity.
Paul writes our public behaviors must stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, (Philippians 1:27)
Our unity (one faith, one Gospel, one God, one mind) should be wrapped up in our purpose (The faith of the gospel).
Jesus final prayer for the church before His betrayal solidifies this lesson.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21)
Is this what we are actually, authentically, genuinely ‘striving together’ towards?
The way we dress, the way we smile or scowl, the way we carry ourselves, the tone and content of our speech… Every day, we are always making statements to all of those around us about what really matters and what life truly consists of.
For Christians, such statements should be in harmony with the gospel.
So Paul called the Philippians to close the gap between their beliefs and their behavior—between the creed they professed and the conduct they displayed.
Christ’s call to us today is no different. Even so, however mature we are in our faith and however much we close the gap, there always remains more to do.
Paul’s phrase “let your manner of life” comes from the Greek verb politeuesthe, which the NIV translates as “conduct yourselves.”
The root of this word comes from polis, which means “city,” and gives us other words like police and politics.
In a very real sense, Paul is concerned with Christian citizenship and conduct.
As we understand ourselves to be members of the city of God, we learn what it means to live as strangers and ambassadors in that other city, the city of man.
When we close the gap between belief and behavior and actions, others will get a foretaste of heaven through their interactions with us.
So what kind of statement should our actions make?
Simply this: the gospel of Christ is a gospel of love.
We see this in the words of John: “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:10-11).
In other words, just as God loves us, so we should love God and those around us—even those whom we, or others, tend to see as unlovely or unlovable—should do it with hope and joy! This message of love is the challenge that Paul gives us.
Not merely in the words you say,
Not only in the deeds confessed,
But in the most unconscious way
Is Christ expressed.[1]
1 Attributed to Beatrice Cleland, “Indwelt,” in, for instance, Our Aim: A Monthly Record of the Aborigines Inland Mission of Australia 68, no. 7 (17 March, 1955), p 1.
Isaiah 64:6-7 The Message
Can We Be Saved?
64 1-7 Oh, that you would rip open the heavens and descend,
make the mountains shudder at your presence—
As when a forest catches fire,
as when fire makes a pot to boil—
To shock your enemies into facing you,
make the nations shake in their boots!
You did terrible things we never expected,
descended and made the mountains shudder at your presence.
Since before time began
no one has ever imagined,
No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you
who works for those who wait for him.
You meet those who happily do what is right,
who keep a good memory of the way you work.
But how angry you’ve been with us!
We’ve sinned and kept at it so long!
Is there any hope for us? Can we be saved?
We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated.
Our best efforts are grease-stained rags.
We dry up like autumn leaves—
sin-dried, we’re blown off by the wind.
No one prays to you
or makes the effort to reach out to you
Because you’ve turned away from us,
left us to stew in our sins.
Pray, about how you will dress today, when you will smile, when you will scowl, how you will carry yourself today, the tone and content of your speech today.
What kind of statements are you making to the world?
Let them be ones that are worthy of the gospel of love.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit …..
Praying ….
Psalm 16 New American Standard Bible
The Lord, the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Salvation in Death.
A [a]Mikhtam of David.
16 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.
2 [b]I said to the Lord, “You are [c]my Lord;
I have nothing good besides You.”
3 As for the [d]saints who are on the earth,
[e]They are the majestic ones; all my delight is in them.
4 [f]The pains of those who have acquired another god will be multiplied;
I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.
5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
6 The measuring lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my inheritance is beautiful to me.
7 I will bless the Lord who has advised me;
Indeed, my [g]mind instructs me in the night.
8 I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to [h]Sheol;
You will not [i]allow Your [j]Holy One to [k]undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the way of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 