Philippians 1:18b-26 JB Phillips  Yes, and I shall go on being very happy, for I know that what is happening will be for the good of my own soul, thanks to your prayers and the resources of the spirit of Jesus Christ. It all accords with my own earnest wishes and hopes, which are that I should never be in any way ashamed, but that now, as always, I should honour Christ with the utmost boldness by the way I live, whether that means I am to face death or to go on living. For living to me means simply “Christ”, and if I die I should merely gain more of him. I realise, of course, that the work which I have started may make it necessary for me to go on living in this world, I should find it very hard to make a choice. I am torn in two directions—on the one hand I long to leave this world and live with Christ, and that is obviously the best thing for me. Yet, on the other hand, it is probably more necessary for you that I should stay here on earth. That is why I feel pretty well convinced that I shall not leave this world yet, but shall be able to stand by you, to help you forward in Christian living and to find increasing joy in your faith. So you can look forward to making much of me as your minister in Christ when I come to see you again!

Ephesians 6:19-20 NIV Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Observation

Paul really trusted God with his life and knew that God’s plans weren’t always going to lead him into what we might consider desirable places.  Paul had a different perspective about life and death.  No matter where Paul found himself – abased or abounding, living or dying for the Gospel – he knew that he could be used to fulfill God’s plan, His will and purpose to redeem mankind.  Paul was willing to allow God to put the price tag on Paul’s contribution. 

Being human, Paul did pray that his courage would not fail as the costs escalated.  I often wondered what happened to revolutionize the lives of the 11 who actually walked with Jesus.  How were they transformed from fear to this same faith, from hiding out to becoming martyrs of the faith?  When the rubber hit the road, they abandoned Him in the Garden, denied knowing Him, stood far off at His crucifixion and even went back to fishing – until they saw Jesus alive and were filled with the Holy Spirit.  We have access to this same courageous way of living as we allow Jesus to be that author and finisher of our faith, the Holy Spirit to lead, renew and empower us.  

Impact on Me

As a young person, I read the Lives of the Saints and marveled at the faith of the many martyrs.  Then, I was sure that I would have been as cowardly as the Apostles who ran away from the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested rather than risk imprisonment and whatever other consequences might arise.   I might have been Peter denying Him or His followers who watched His death on the Cross from far off, not even willing to stand by when He was dying.  Then, I would recognize that most of these eventually died as martyrs for the faith.  What had changed?   It was the presence of the Risen Christ Jesus and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit vibrating with life within them so that, like Paul, Heaven and its agenda was more real and desirable than this life.

So these questions remain for me.  Am I willing to allow God to write the price tag for me?  Am I willing to be spent for the sake of the Gospel and those God has counted worth my cost?  Am I willing to be broken and spilled out as an act of worship because I eagerly expect and hope that my efforts will bring glory to God?  Can I grow in faith to respond to difficulties, conflict and painful circumstances in the same way as Paul did?  When I pray for that same courage, will I be sincere and allow it to flow in and through me to exalt Christ regardless of the cost to me?  Can I really be committed to Heaven’s agenda over all else?

Prayer

Lord God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, You are worthy of praise, honor and glory.  I struggle with what the cost might be to fully represent You and pray with Paul for the courage to fearlessly declare the truth that will change the location of eternity for those who do not yet know what it is to be surrendered and embraced by You.  I do not want to stand politely and quietly by as those who are deceived by this world and the devil tread the pathway to Hell.  May I always share the Gospel in love, not condemning or shaming others but rather allowing Your love, grace and peace to break through and draw them to You as I was drawn.  Make it so, in Jesus’ name. 

Author: LizG

Wife, mom, grandma & great grandma. View all posts by LizG