Bible Reading: 1 Kings 10; Philippians 1; Ezekiel 40; Psalm 91
Philippians 1:27-28 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
The apostle Paul was going to come and see the Philippian believers again and he challenged them to live a life that becomes the gospel of Jesus Christ. Do you live a life that becomes the gospel of Christ? Do people observing your life know that you and your church are one? What would that look like?
1. Stand fast in one spirit – A believer should be standing fast as a soldier with his/her church. This is a military term that denotes order in the ranks on a battle field. Are you standing fast with the whole armour of God on with brothers and sisters in Christ?
2. With one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel – Having one mind with someone else means that you believe and think the same things; it means you have the same goals. Do you strive for the gospel alongside your church?
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
3. In noting terrified by your adversaries – even though we face an enemy, we are not terrified by that enemy. Are you confident in the fact that is Jesus we will have victory? This confidence in victory does two things. First, it shows the enemies of the gospel that perdition is their future. They will lose and go to the lake of fire. Second, it is the assurance of our salvation in Jesus Christ. This comes from God who wants us to be confident in our salvation.
This is all war metaphor and military language. Are you standing fast in one spirit with your church? This is what God wants for every church and every believer.
In Christ,
Rody
