Phillipians 1:27,28 "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents--which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God." (NASB)
What does it mean to "conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ?" It means that our behaviour should be suitable for the gospel, agreeable to the gospel. For example, would a servant of the good news ever participate in a bank robbery? Most likely, they would not. How then should we behave? In Matthew 5, Jesus gives us a bunch of behaviours to emulate. (The really interesting thing is that as we perform those activities, we become more like Jesus in character.)
Further, the phrase "standing firm" in Greek gives the image of wrestlers who stand in the fight and do not let their feet be moved backwards. It is appropriate imagery for the Christian Disciple; we are in a spiritual wrestling match. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." The King James version translates that accurately as "We wrestle."
The apostle Paul finally encourages us not to be alarmed by those who stand against us. It can be alarming when someone does or says something that flies in the face of good and moral behaviour, especially when it is done intentionally to set us off. Weymouth says, "Never for a moment quail before your adversaries. Your fearlessness will be to them a sure token of impending destruction, but to you it will be a sure token of your salvation--a token coming from God." Remember how Nehemiah stood in the face of social, political, and even military opposition. He had the assurance that God would fight where He could not - and it is the same for us.
Brothers and sisters, let us be those who walk in appropriate behaviour and attitude for the furthering of the good news of Jesus Christ, striving for the truth as those who wrestle and who will not give ground. Let us not be disturbed by our Adversary or his minions, knowing that as we stand up to him, he will flee, because we stand in the grace and authority of Almighty God.
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who died in our place, and rose from the dead to show the penaly for our wrongdoings was paid, and that the power of sin in our lives has been broken once for all. Help us, Lord, to stand in the grace of His life, and not be afraid of any kind of opposition, because you have not given us a spirit of fear, but instead, you have given us a spirit of love, of power, and of a sound mind. Thank you Father, for the love and gifts you bestow upon us. We pray in Jesus' might and precious name. Amen.
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"You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
-John 8:32 (NASB)
What does it mean to "conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ?" It means that our behaviour should be suitable for the gospel, agreeable to the gospel. For example, would a servant of the good news ever participate in a bank robbery? Most likely, they would not. How then should we behave? In Matthew 5, Jesus gives us a bunch of behaviours to emulate. (The really interesting thing is that as we perform those activities, we become more like Jesus in character.)
Further, the phrase "standing firm" in Greek gives the image of wrestlers who stand in the fight and do not let their feet be moved backwards. It is appropriate imagery for the Christian Disciple; we are in a spiritual wrestling match. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." The King James version translates that accurately as "We wrestle."
The apostle Paul finally encourages us not to be alarmed by those who stand against us. It can be alarming when someone does or says something that flies in the face of good and moral behaviour, especially when it is done intentionally to set us off. Weymouth says, "Never for a moment quail before your adversaries. Your fearlessness will be to them a sure token of impending destruction, but to you it will be a sure token of your salvation--a token coming from God." Remember how Nehemiah stood in the face of social, political, and even military opposition. He had the assurance that God would fight where He could not - and it is the same for us.
Brothers and sisters, let us be those who walk in appropriate behaviour and attitude for the furthering of the good news of Jesus Christ, striving for the truth as those who wrestle and who will not give ground. Let us not be disturbed by our Adversary or his minions, knowing that as we stand up to him, he will flee, because we stand in the grace and authority of Almighty God.
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who died in our place, and rose from the dead to show the penaly for our wrongdoings was paid, and that the power of sin in our lives has been broken once for all. Help us, Lord, to stand in the grace of His life, and not be afraid of any kind of opposition, because you have not given us a spirit of fear, but instead, you have given us a spirit of love, of power, and of a sound mind. Thank you Father, for the love and gifts you bestow upon us. We pray in Jesus' might and precious name. Amen.
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"You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
-John 8:32 (NASB)
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