The Philippian church was
challenged by Paul to be “blameless and harmless, the sons of
God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,
among whom you shine as lights in the world;”.
He knew that others would be watching their behavior, and by their
actions, attitudes and words they would be a witness of the gospel of
Jesus Christ. In chapter two and verse sixteen of Paul's letter to
the Philippians he continued to exhort them so his efforts would not
be in vain. We read:
Holding forth the word
of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run
in vain, neither labored in vain.
The verse begins, “Holding
forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ,”
Paul begins this exhortation
with the phrase “Holding forth”
which means “to have or hold upon, apply, to observe, attend to, or
to give attention to” “the word of life” or “the
word that brings life”. In other words they were to give attention
to the gospel of Jesus Christ which they believed. Paul's reason was,
“that I may rejoice in the day of Christ”. If
the Philippians would keep the “word of life”,
Paul could rejoice with them in the “day of Christ”
where everyone who believes in Him will be brought together in a time
of celebration.
The
verse goes on to say, “that I have not run in vain, neither
labored in vain.” If we use our imaginations we can almost see
Paul the apostle wondering if all his efforts towards the Philippians
would be “in vain” which means “empty, void of truth,
containing nothing and with no purpose”. Paul had run. Paul had
labored, and the goal was to have the people in Philippi to know and
live the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was concerned after all his
efforts towards them that they would somehow fall astray, not keep
the gospel, and make void all the energies he poured into them. No
doubt he would rather rejoice with them in the day of Christ than to
grieve over them leaving the gospel they believed.
Have we
ever labored with someone and wondered if all our labor was in vain?
Have we expended ourselves, cost ourselves and poured out ourselves
toward them only to wonder if our efforts would come up empty, void
of truth and containing nothing? As we think about Paul's words,
perhaps we may put ourselves in his place and feel his desire to
“rejoice in the day of Christ” over those to whom we have
extended ourselves and the gospel, and may the Lord help us not to
faint along the way if we discover that some of our running and
laboring has been in vain.
Next
time Paul tells the Philippians how he views his sacrifice for them,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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