Author: mary

“And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Paul says in ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:14‬. Paul had no fear when he spoke of the Lord. He did not fear death. He lived with the understanding that if death was the greatest thing man could do to him, then there was no fear in that because death was gain for him. If he died he was just furthering the gospel, so it did not matter.

You will find a sense of freedom when you live in this way. You will see that you will not have any fear when telling others about Christ if you live in such a way that shows you do not fear death. Death can be scary for anyone, especially when you are going through something like cancer or other ailments. We need to be able to see death as Paul saw it, not as an end, but as the reward.

When someone dies that had a personal relationship with the Lord, it is a blessing. Their loved ones are reassured that they lived a life devoted to the Lord and have now received their reward: eternity with Jesus. When someone dies without Jesus, it is absolutely devastating knowing that they are eternally separated from Christ. As Christians we need to see death as a reward for anyone that knows Christ and have a sense of urgency for those who do not know Him.

Paul’s purpose for suffering in Philippians 1:13 was “so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.” His suffering had a purpose greater than him. If you would have told Paul that he would be suffering for the cause of Christ when he was a Pharisee, he probably would have never believed you. However, once God changed his life, his suffering took on a greater purpose.

Paul went through so much suffering in his life. He did it all for the cause of Christ. He always lived to make the gospel known in his life, so everything he did, he did for Christ, and that included suffering. We all go through suffering in our lives. How we view our suffering can have an impact on us. If we view our suffering as debilitating and destructive, then we will not allow God to use our suffering for good. If we view our suffering as a vessel for God’s glory, then we will be able to get through the suffering with purpose.

Have you been through suffering? Have you allowed God to walk you through it with purpose. There is always purpose in the pain if we allow God to be in control.

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,” Paul exclaims in ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:12‬. Paul’s life was a life that advanced the gospel. Before He knew Christ, his life hindered the gospel. He persecuted anyone who did not follow the rules of the Old Testament and the Sanhedrin. But when his life was changed, it began to serve a greater purpose for Jesus Christ. His life was meant to advance the gospel.

As Christians, we have a greater purpose than just ourselves. We are meant to advance the gospel, too. Everything in our lives should point to who He is and what He had done in our lives. We should live our lives as if we are on mission for Him.

Does your life serve to advance the gospel? When others look at you, do they see the gospel of Jesus? The great thing about Jesus was that He came for all, so even if your life does not look perfect, all God sees is a redeemed life living to advance the gospel. Strive everyday to live in such a way that pleases the Lord and really points toward the work He is doing.

Paul tells his readers in Philippians 1:10-11 that his prayer is that they may abound in love “so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” We can know God better when we allow His love to transform us. His love is the only thing that can change us from the inside out.

When we abound in the love of God, we can approve what is excellent. We will know God’s will and desires and the difference between right and wrong when we love God with a fierce kind of love and love others with that undying type of love. When we love like God loves, we will begin to understand how to be pure and blameless for Christ. He will fill us with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. We will want to live a righteous life to please Him and know Him more. When we do this, it will give Him all glory and praise.

Spend some time in prayer today about how you can abound in his love everyday and let God change your life.

Paul tells the Philippians in chapter one verse eight through nine, “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment.” He yearned for them to know the love of Christ. This was evidence of the spiritual change that had taken place within him. He did not care about people before he knew Christ. Before Christ, religion was just a set of rules and traditions. He even persecuted Christians like Stephen for their “radical beliefs.” Once he came to know Christ, he was a changed man. He knew that it was about a relationship with Christ and not just a relationship. He loved God’s people instead of persecuting them. He wanted them to know Christ in the way he had come to know him.

Your testimony and how you came to know Christ is a powerful story that can change lives. You can minister to the heart of people when they hear how Christ changed you. It is the evidence of the changed life within you. No matter the testimony of your life before Christ and the change that took place when you came to know Him, He can use your testimony to reach people you would have never thought could be reached. Your past failures and struggles can be used to encourage others and give them the hope of Christ.