Listen here.
Welcome to Devotions for Worship where we meditate on the
appointed Scripture readings for the upcoming Sunday. Thank you for being with
me today.
I am Pastor Eric Tritten from Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in
Hudson, OH.
This coming Sunday is the 16th Sunday after
Pentecost, and this Sunday we start a new epistle – a new letter – for our New
Testament Lesson. We are beginning Paul’s letter to the Philippians. We’ll read
highlights from this letter over the next four weeks. That being said,
Philippians is only four chapters long, and I encourage you take up the whole
letter and read it through. It will probably take you less than a half-hour,
and you’ll get the whole message of the letter beyond the bits and pieces
you’ll get on Sunday morning.
The Reading: Philippians 1:12-14, 19-30 – I will be reading from the English Standard
Version translation.
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has
happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that
it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest
that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers,
having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to
speak the word without fear.
(Phil. 1:12-14 ESV)
19 … I know that through your prayers and the
help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20
as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but
that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether
by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is
gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for
me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed
between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far
better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your
account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and
continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so
that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my
coming to you again.
27 Only
let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I
come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in
one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28
and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them
of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only
believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same
conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. (Phil. 1:19-30 ESV)
Comments
In this reading we see one of the weaknesses of only hearing
God’s Word in the appointed Sunday readings. Paul says, “I want you to know,
brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel
….” What happened? What is Paul referring to here? Without the broader context
– specifically reading the book of Acts which records much of Paul’s ministry –
we don’t know what happened to Paul and we miss the larger arc of God’s work in
history as he used people to spread the gospel. In this case, Paul is probably
talking about his imprisonment – either in Caesarea or in Rome. He’s saying
that his imprisonment has actually served to make God’s people more bold to
share the gospel – that good news of God’s redemption through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
How did Paul’s imprisonment serve to embolden the church to
share the Gospel? There is a long held principle put forth by the Early Church
Father Tertullian that, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” It
is in the moments when Christians are oppressed, persecuted, experiencing
difficulty, suffering, and even dying that their faith stands in such strong
contrast to their circumstances that the world cannot help notice the hope,
joy, peace, and courage as the believer struggles and suffers trusting in God’s
salvation.
At the heart of the Christian’s ability to face dark times
in faith is the confidence that Paul expresses in v. 21, “For me to live is
Christ, and to die is gain.” I think we generally resonate with the last part of
the verse, “to die is gain.” We recognize that to die is to rest in Jesus and
to be at peace as we await the resurrection. We will awaken with perfect
glorified bodies, without sin and its stain. However, we also hear, “To live is
Christ.” That is to live is live in Christ, to bear his name, to suffer on his
behalf, to receive his constant mercy, forgiveness, and salvation, and to share
Jesus’ mercy, forgiveness, and salvation with others. That is a very good
thing. It is as if we are in a win-win situation. If we live – even if we
suffer – we have all of God’s blessings and promises in Jesus and we have the
joy of serving our savior and, perhaps, bringing his salvation to someone else.
If we die we rest in Christ and await the resurrection.
In this way our suffering becomes a place where God’s
faithfulness and beauty is seen. As we hold tightly to Jesus, letting our
manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, we bear witness to the world
that Jesus has overcome this world and saved us. We may have pains and sorrows,
we may even suffer for the sake of Christ, but in every circumstance, in life
and in death, we find God pouring his
salvation into our lives.
Prayers
Father in heaven, you used Paul’s imprisonment as a tool to
bring the message of forgiveness and salvation in Christ to many people and you
made others bold to witness about Jesus through Paul’s suffering. Thank you
that our lives, too, have the opportunity to be your witnesses, even in the
midst of our own sorrow and suffering. Forgive us for forgetting that you work
all things to the good of those who love you and that to live is Christ even if
to die is gain. Help us to rejoice in both options for ourselves, knowing that
your Spirit is at work in us even now, working salvation in our lives. Use us,
Lord to share the hope of the gospel with this generation, and help us to live
a life worthy of the gospel for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Thank you so much for using Devotions for Worship, I pray
that our time together has blessed you and given you something to meditate on –
some reminder of God’s grace to rattle around in your brain – for the rest of
the day.
Memory Verse: Isaiah 55:6-7 - "Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the
unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have
compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isa. 55:6-7
ESV)
Before you go, I have two things:
I just want to remind you of the great need in Texas,
Florida, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Please keep those people in your prayers.
And remember that LCMS World Relief and Human Care does great work to help
people in need and to share the gospel with the hurting. You can learn more
about their work and make donations to help the suffering at www.lcms.org/disaster.
Would you do me a favor? If you got something out of this
devotional time, would you like and/or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or
wherever you do social media? That would help me get the word out, and
hopefully help these devotions be a blessing to others.
God bless you!
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