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Digging Deep (Cont)
As I look at Paul in chapter 2 and 3 of Philippians, I started to think about his current state. He is a full-time missionary whose sole purpose in life is Jesus and to share the Gospel of Jesus. But he is in jail. When he asks for prayer, in Ephesians, about his current state he doesn't ask for them to pray that he would get out, but he ask them to pray that he would speak boldly in sharing the mysteries of the Gospel. Wow.
Paul is locked-up unlawfully and he isn't concerned with his current state or location in life. He is concerned with sharing the Gospel with the people that are in chains with him and also guards that have imprisoned him. Then when I turn back and go to Philippians I see Paul says the Gospel is evident in to the whole palace guard. The prayer was answered.
In Chapter 2 and 3 Paul insists on continuing to talk about doing ministry and making an impact where he is and pouring out to other places by sending Epaphroditus. This is amazing to me because he has such a great impact on so many people while in chains. And then, he goes even further to say do all things without complaining. Wow again.
I find it astonishing that Paul was never focused on his circumstance and changing them. His main focus was God changing him within that circumstance so he could speak the Gospel. I think I forget about how I got here. I forget how God has used my circumstances in the past to refine me to who I am today.
Paul says, "Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind." He gives encouragement to stay in line spiritually and keep progressing by the same principles that brought them growth to this point. Stay in the season that Jesus has us in and remember the growth he has done in us through the past seasons of life.
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Digging Deeper
When I got into the Word today I found something that I've read over and over again that stood out more than ever before. I was in Philippians 1. Specifically what stood out was the verse where Paul talks about his coming deliverance, the boldness and hope that he receives from the prayer of others and the Holy Spirit. He speaks of not being ashamed because Christ will be magnified in Paul's body either in death or life. The next verses are the climax of his point. Philippians 1:21-24 states:
"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you."
God impressed on my heart the question of why Paul was hard-pressed. It's not like Paul could be considered a worldly man, stuck on his possessions that he didn't have. It couldn't have been family like a wife or other loved ones; He never spoke of any and he was never married. What reason would he have to stay?
It occurred to me that Paul's life is not just "centered on Christ" but Jesus is his whole reason for being. So, if he exists here on Earth the only reason for being here would be to bring souls to Christ and build up believers to do the same, on the other hand if he departs he would gain complete, conscious, intimate, unhindered fellowship with God.
This pointed out my lack of worship. I cannot say that my sole reason for being is Christ. I have a wife, a son, family, and friends that I would like to spend more time with. My heart doesn't fully realize that my only purpose here is Christ and living a life to glorify Him. I might understand this intellectually but getting that to translate to my heart is a larger issue. My prayer is that I would worship God like Paul. I want to be the extreme. I desire for God to be acknowledged more in my heart and to be my sole purpose for existing. When Christ came to Earth His sole purpose was to redeem us back to himself and in that same way it is my sole purpose to glorify Him and share His love through His Gospel of redemption. Read Full...
"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you."
God impressed on my heart the question of why Paul was hard-pressed. It's not like Paul could be considered a worldly man, stuck on his possessions that he didn't have. It couldn't have been family like a wife or other loved ones; He never spoke of any and he was never married. What reason would he have to stay?
It occurred to me that Paul's life is not just "centered on Christ" but Jesus is his whole reason for being. So, if he exists here on Earth the only reason for being here would be to bring souls to Christ and build up believers to do the same, on the other hand if he departs he would gain complete, conscious, intimate, unhindered fellowship with God.
This pointed out my lack of worship. I cannot say that my sole reason for being is Christ. I have a wife, a son, family, and friends that I would like to spend more time with. My heart doesn't fully realize that my only purpose here is Christ and living a life to glorify Him. I might understand this intellectually but getting that to translate to my heart is a larger issue. My prayer is that I would worship God like Paul. I want to be the extreme. I desire for God to be acknowledged more in my heart and to be my sole purpose for existing. When Christ came to Earth His sole purpose was to redeem us back to himself and in that same way it is my sole purpose to glorify Him and share His love through His Gospel of redemption. Read Full...
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