Life Goals = Love Well & Serve Often

I have been so drawn to the Word these past few days. I love days/seasons/moments when I'm in the Word and the Holy Spirit is so alive and active in my heart and soul. Scripture seems to almost leap off the page as I'm reading and the words are the exact words my heart needs. I am in a group on Sunday nights that is studying the book of Philippians. Our first assignment is to go through the book and list the exhortations/commands that Paul gives to the Philippian church. Here are some of my thoughts so far:

Exhortations/Commands given by Paul to the Philippian Church

1. Let your love abound more and more (1:9)

2. Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel (1:27)

 

I think it’s interesting that the first exhortation/command given is for the church to love, and not only to love but to continue to grow in love and give out love more and more. That’s how it all got started anyway. God so loved the world. And, it seems in the following exhortations/commands he gives that they are given in ways that ultimately show and prove our love for ourselves, for others, and ultimately for Christ.

The next exhortation/command is that no matter what happens in your life that you be able to conduct (guide, behave, direct, lead, manage) yourself in a manner worthy of Christ. The greek word for conduct in this verse is translated “politeuomai”. I think it’s interesting that the word “polite” is a part of this translation. To conduct is to show regard to others in your speech and behavior. So, when Paul says to conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel he is saying it is your responsibility to tell yourself what to do! Be firm with yourself, say to yourself that no matter what has happened I am going to behave and lead myself in a way that ultimately brings glory to the gospel and my God to which I am called to serve. Another part of the greek translation is saying that as a part of conducting yourself you are to do so remembering that you are a citizen of Heaven and that you are to behave as a citizen.

Our behavior in the “whatever happens” category can be real and raw with emotion, and most often will be because that’s the natural response to hard things that come our way. But, what Paul is alluding to here is that even in those emotions we can honor God and even in the midst of the “whatever happens” we can be an example to those around us. And, as you remain in Christ your conduct will be worthy of the Gospel. Your conduct in the “whatever happens” category is a powerful testimony to the power, grace, mercy, and strength of Christ. We are not able to stand firm without Him. When the winds of life blow, they are more often than not hurricane force, and if we are not rooted in Christ we could be easily swept away. However, with our feet planted firmly in the strength and power of Christ we will not be moved.

One scholar writes, “Sensible persons instinctively recoil from making potentially disastrous decisions without considering reasons for and against the action they propose to take.” I take this to mean, that when “whatever happens” actually happens as believers we need to seriously consider the results of our words and behavior. Why? It doesn’t seem fair to have to consider others in our moments of deep hurt and pain. But, why not? Didn’t Christ do this for us? We have been fooled into thinking “it’s all about me”. Satan has taken the long time stand of trying to fool us into thinking that we were created for our own selves. This is so far from the truth, but because we’ve heard it for so long we have become believers in the lie of it being all about us.

So, the first two exhortations/commands we see tell us to love and to stay firm in Christ so that we can be an unhindered testimony for Him. The purpose of the Christian life lies in these two principles.

Love and Serve.