In Nothing I Shall Be Ashamed...

Monday:

Philippians 1:1-26

Paul wrote this letter to the church at Philippi while he was a prisoner in Rome. I am inspired by the joy that Paul has even though he is in prison, and knew his life to be at stake. Paul could see that his circumstances had furthered the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and because of his boldness in proclaiming the Gospel, others found boldness to do the same. Some were preaching the Gospel out of envy of Paul (V.15), others out of love (V.17), but regardless, Paul saw that the Gospel was being preached. Paul was also able to preach from prison to the many guards that were assigned to him. So, Paul could see that his imprisonment was a good thing.

There were two other things that stood out to me this morning. One was verse 20 -

“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” (KJV)

Paul knew that regardless the circumstances or outcome (whether he be released, or put to death) that he was going to magnify Christ. And what a powerful example that we have in Paul. He says, “in nothing I shall be ashamed”. How many times have I been quiet when I should have stood up for Christ? How many times have I not told someone about Jesus because I was afraid of what they would think of me? Paul was not ashamed; he wanted to share the Gospel. He could be put to death. What is the worst that would happen to me? An ‘uncomfortable situation’? I am ashamed that there have been opportunities that I have had that were ‘uncomfortable’, so I didn’t tell the person about Jesus. And yet, Paul preached the Gospel knowing that he could be put to death!

The other was V. 21 “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (KJV). He knew that as long as he continued to live he was going to serve Christ, and if he were killed, he would be with Christ. So either way, he saw the good. He wasn’t afraid of what could happen to him. Either way was good for him. He had a desire to be with Christ, which he says in V. 23 is far better than to live, but he saw the need for him to continue his earthly service to Christ. Would I be ok with dying for Christ? When I am often afraid to just speak up in a conversation?

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the encouragement, blessing, and instruction of your Word today. Thank you for the example of Paul and his boldness. Please help me today to be an example for others in the things I say and do, and help me to have the boldness to tell those you put in my path about you.

Amen.