STAND UNITED IN SUFFERING
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Opening Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, that I can count on your faithfulness; I can trust in your promises today, tomorrow, and for eternity.
Read PHILIPPIANS 1:27–30
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Life Worthy of the Gospel
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,[a] striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Footnotes
- Philippians 1:27 Or in one spirit
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Consider how you have lived in a manner not worthy of the gospel in the past few days. Confess these failures and ask God’s forgiveness through Jesus.‘Conduct yourselves’ (v. 27) means ‘live as citizens,’ that is, live in the public square among your fellow citizens (the related noun, ‘citizenship,’ is used in 3:20). Their faith in Jesus is not a private affair but must influence and transform their lives in Philippi. This would be challenging, for they would have to refuse or resist aspects of Philippian life, such as joining in festivals for other gods. Others might misunderstand or be actively hostile, and they might suffer (v. 29).
Imagine a couple who are bakers in Philippi who become Christians. What would change? They would remove the statue of the city’s patron god from the counter in their shop, resulting in customers suspecting disloyalty to the city, and their sales would drop. Fellow bakers would refuse help when they had a big order and needed to borrow other ovens. Their suffering would be economic. They might lose their business and have to beg.
In that situation, other believers’ support would be critical: to ‘stand firm in the one Spirit’ (v. 27) would include both prayer and practical help. These Christian bakers would need other believers to buy their bread. This support, enabled by the Spirit, would enable them not to be frightened (v. 28).
Apply
Think of Christians known to you who suffer. Are there prayerful and practical ways in which you can support them? Act on them!
Closing prayer
Holy Spirit, even in seemingly insignificant things, help me to stand for Christ and to help others do the same. Give me courage to do what is right and give witness to the hope within me.
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