Called to a Mission of Service

An Everlasting Covenant

With God

Faithful God, Unfaithful People

Philippians 1:8-17 The Message 

7-8 It’s not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does!
9-11 So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.

They Can’t Imprison the Message

12-14 I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, found out that I’m in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they’ve learned all about him. Not only that, but most of the followers of Jesus here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah.
15-17 It’s true that some here preach Christ because with me out of the way, they think they’ll step right into the spotlight. But the others do it with the best heart in the world. One group is motivated by pure love, knowing that I am here defending the Message, wanting to help. The others, now that I’m out of the picture are merely greedy, hoping to get something out of it for themselves. Their motives are bad. They see me as their competition, and so the worse it goes for me, the better—they think—for them.

For Reflection

Responding to God's call is sometimes difficult.  Paul writes this letter while imprisoned.  And yet, his message displays regret but no bitterness. Paul sees the good he is doing in the name of Christ, not the bad which has plagued him.  Good and evil, he understands, are relative terms.  That some would judge his imprisonment as an opportunity for selfish gain, Paul sees as their folly which will result in nothing.  Do you see opportunities under challenging circumstances to serve God as Paul has, or do you let the difficulties inhibit you?  

Pray

Pray often and seek to understand the opportunities God places in your path.  In spite of your difficulties, God will make all roads lead to the enhancement of God's kingdom. Praise God!