1Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and servants: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3I thank my God whenever I remember you, 4always in every request of mine on behalf of you all, making my requests with joy, 5for your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now; 6being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. 7It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.
9This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ, 11being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News, 13so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ, 14and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear. 15Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will. 16The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains; 17but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.
18What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice. 19For I know that this will turn out to my salvation through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose. 23But I am hard pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24Yet to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake. 25Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26that your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.
27Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News; 28and in nothing frightened by the adversaries, which is for them a proof of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf, 30having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
Stand Firm for the Gospel
Stand Firm for the Gospel
Philippians 1
27 Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News; 28 and in nothing frightened by the adversaries, which is for them a proof of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God.
Paul was imprisoned without any expectation of release, and yet in this letter to the church in Philippi, he wrote some of the most hopeful, joyful, thankful words that are penned in the New Testament. The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians is sometimes called “The Joyful Letter.” As Paul begins this letter, he urges his readers to stand firm in one spirit, striving for the faith of the Good News. It seems that during these times, the Western world finds few reasons to stand unified for anything. This is especially true in America. As I write this devotional, we are on the threshold of an avowed Communist being elected as mayor of New York City. His political, financial, religious, and ideological positions are antithetical to the founding documents and ideology of America. Much to my comfort, the county in which I live in Texas elects officials who are planets away from these strange and foreign godless ideologies. There is an existential struggle for the soul of America, and, shockingly, many self-proclaimed Christians are taking up and moving towards the causes carried by these people that are hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul tells believers to “stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News.” This is a call to all who claim to believe in Jesus to stand up for the Gospel. This surpasses any and all other causes. If the gospel is preeminent in our lives, we should hold fast to policies and people who ensure that the gospel message can continue to be clearly and faithfully proclaimed in our land. We are engaged in an existential battle, whether we wish to recognize it or not. Ephesians chapter 6 tells us how to gird ourselves for battle, and here, Paul says, “Stand firm.” This is not the time to become weak in the knees. Paul says that the struggle is real. He reminds us not to be frightened by our adversaries, because this same Gospel that is salvation for the believer is destruction for the unbeliever. But, even in the midst of the fight and alongside our struggle, we can find joy in suffering, unity of purpose, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can and will persevere through whatever comes our way. Stand firm today, and do so with all joy! The battle is real, but the victory is assured.