I recently spoke in the main service at our church and was totally convicted about what I learned in my preparation to preach. We are going through the book of Philippians all summer and I was given the task to teach/preach Philippians 1:18b-30. Being tasked with preaching “to live is Christ to die is gain” and “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” felt like a tall and intimidating task.
Paul is writing this letter to the Philippians while he is in prison and awaiting the verdict as to whether he would be executed or not. He writes about rejoicing and not being ashamed but having courage. He writes about knowing that dying is better because that means being in the presence of Christ but if he is to go on living it is about Christ as well. He writes that he knows it would be better for him to go on living because it would be better for the Philippians. There is no hint of selfishness in this entire passage. Paul goes on to say that we should conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel.
It’s quite obvious what is in Paul’s heart… he isn’t concerned about the fact that he is suffering but that he suffers in a way that would not bring shame to him or (more importantly) the gospel. Paul isn’t concerned about himself but he is concerned about the Philippians. I was convicted because our conduct reveals our heart. To live in a manner worthy of the gospel requires our hearts to be in the right place. It’s not just about our actions and either way, eventually what is inside of our hearts will come out in the way we act… our actions reveal what is in our hearts in a big way.
To take it a step further… knowing Paul’s situation… In the midst of pain, our conduct reveals our heart. Especially when we are suffering or in pain, that is when what we are really concerned about and care about comes out. Paul is about others and about the gospel. Period. At the base of the gospel of Christ is love and sacrifice.
What do I think about most? What do I spend most of my time on? What do my actions say about what is inside of my heart? When I suffer, do I care about how I suffer and that I suffer well… or do I just get wrapped up in the fact that I am suffering and how much I wish I wasn’t?
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him – Phil. 1:29
Suffering and pain on behalf of Christ is part of the Christian life just as much as believing in Christ. Whether we are suffering or not (especially when we are) what is in our heart? What do we care about most? What are we concerned about? Because whatever that is, that is what will come out…
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. – Phil. 1:27
Put the gospel first, and the gospel starts with LOVE. Our lives should be consistent with the gospel, united around the gospel, and we should be fearless because of the gospel. That is worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
_Andrew
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