Philippians 1:12-21

 Philippians 1:12-21

To have a life worth living, we must have something worth living for. Paul is not looking at life with the eyes of denial, nor is he wearing rose-colored glasses. He is not offering the “glass half-full” positive mental attitude as an escape from the brutal reality that he is facing. Paul is being profoundly realistic. He described how the purpose of his life, the reason for his existence, is being advanced. His circumstances result in God's will being accomplished. 

The circumstance is being a prisoner; the result is that the whole praetorian guard and everyone else knows about Christ. 

The circumstance is imprisonment; the result is that the believers become bold. 

The circumstance is false brothers talk about Christ to make life difficult for Paul; the result is Christ becomes the talk of the town. 

Paul sees every circumstance in terms of, ‘How will this advance the gospel?’ In verse 18 we see the words “what then.” This is a phrase of almost defiant tone. It is as if Paul says to circumstances, to the world, and to the powers of darkness, “You have thrown your best shot at the gospel, and it advances anyway.” Paul's personal circumstances, agenda, will, or comfort have most emphatically not been advanced. Paul has lost himself so completely in the cause of Christ that he doesn't consider his agenda worth a hill of beans, so long as he sees the gospel advance. Almost all, if not all, the circumstances of Paul's life were negative, but Paul hardly mentioned them. If we look at the events of Paul's life in Acts or 2 Corinthians 11, we see hardship, suffering, and trial. But Paul would only see that the gospel advanced and Christ was being exalted in his body. (v 20) Too often we think of our body in reference to the Gospel as making sure we don't use our body to do bad things. A thoroughly biblical understanding of the relationship between our body and the gospel is much broader. God is glorified in our body by acts of service, by teaching and proclaiming, by giving a cup of cold water, or feeding the hungry. This is how the temple, that is our body, exalts Christ. It is also why any circumstance, even martyrdom, can be the circumstance that results in the good news being known. That is how Paul could say, “To live is Christ; to die is gain.”

“Lord, help me to live for Jesus in ever circumstance and moment. AMEN”