As Paul the apostle listed
several motives which brethren used to share the gospel, he knew that
many of them shared out of envy and strife but some shared with good
will. In chapter one and verse seventeen in his letter to the
Philippians, Paul shares another reason that some of them declared
the good news of Jesus Christ. He wrote:
But the other of love,
knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.
The
verse begins, “But the other of love,...” Paul
added to his list those who were sharing the gospel with a motive of
“love” which is
the Greek word “agape” which means “affection, good
will, benevolence, brotherly love and unconditional
love”. There were those who knew of Paul's imprisonment who were
not telling others about Jesus from an ill standpoint but were
sharing with others because they loved them.
The
verse goes on to say, “...knowing that I am set for the
defense of the gospel.” These
brothers knew that Paul the apostle was “set” which
means “to be (by God's intent) set, i.e. destined, appointed
by God”, however Paul was not “set” or “appointed”
by God for no reason. Paul was set “for the defense”,
which is the Greek word “apologia” from which we get our English
word “apologetics”, “of the gospel”. In other words,
these brothers who preached the gospel with love knew that Paul's
destiny to share the gospel of Jesus Christ was determined by God.
Paul knew these brothers were familiar with his verbal defense of the
gospel, and they too were determined to continue to share with others
even though Paul was in prison because of his apologetics.
Do we know others who share
the gospel and have paid a price for doing so? Have we ever shared
the gospel ourselves and paid a price? These brothers of whom Paul
spoke shared from a correct motive, and they knew it was determined
by God that Paul share in whatever defensive way was necessary to
bring people to Jesus Christ. What about us? Do others know we are
“set for the defense of the gospel”? As we ponder the
words of Paul, perhaps our prayer should be, “Heavenly Father, help
us to know your appointment for our lives, and may we serve you with
the motive of agape love in the same manner in which Paul's brothers
shared”. May the Lord bless us with His determination to do so.
Next
time Paul shares his conclusion about how and why these men share, 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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