Though Paul is torn in Philippians 1 about whether he should desire to stay on earth or depart to be with Christ, his way is clear, and this week’s passage explains why.
You can see Paul’s decision in Philippians 1:25-26:
In the previous passages, Paul seems to understand that his death is near, and that he may soon be a martyr for Christ. In fact, the previous verses seem to suggest strongly that Paul was not long for this world.
But in these verses, he seems to possess a new confidence, knowing that his life would continue,at least for a while longer, in order to serve more.
It is unclear where this newfound confidence comes from. Did God reveal something to Paul? Perhaps a legal decision was made in his favor for his impending trial in Rome? We simply do not know. And from Paul’s suggestion in 2:17, his expectation of continued life may not be certain.
What we do know is that Paul will continue to serve the gospel and Christ for as long as he is able. He may long for a reunion with the people of Philippi. But if that should not happen, he is standing with them “in the faith.” In the meantime, he will “continue” with them, probably a referral to his continued prayers and love for the Philippians as they serve Christ together.
Paul’s desire is that he rejoin the Philippians soon. His presence with them once again will increase their joy. The word for “joy” here can also be translated as “boasting,” or even as “glory.” Paul’s life, especially if released to return to Philippi, would bring something of all of these definitions to the Philippian believers. Their joy would increase. They would have more reason for boasting about what God has done. And they would bring glory to Christ as a result.
However, no matter what the final result is, Paul desires the Philippians to stand strong in the gospel. This is clarified in the very next paragraph, and Paul will explain this in detail through the final portion of chapter one.
In this passage, Paul exhorts the Philippian people to boast in Christ, to abound in joy because of what Christ has done in his life. We would do well to follow his example here. What has Christ done in our lives, or the lives of those around us, that should give us cause for boasting in his behalf? What has God accomplished in our lives that cause our joy to overflow?
In my case, my joy overflows because of the people I am blessed to serve alongside in ministry here at our church. My coworkers, both on staff and in other leadership positions, are a joy to work with, and watching God move in their lives gives me cause for rejoicing.
And the people of our church bring me the same kind of joy. A momentary conversation here, or a cup of coffee there, and I can see what God is doing in the lives of the believers in our community. And that brings joy to my life as I watch them grow in their faith and service. Knowing that I am prayed for by these people, and that I pray for them, forges bonds that are stronger than anyone could ever imagine.
It is a joy to serve God with the people he has placed in my life. I’m fairly certain that Paul felt the same way as he thought about the people of the Philippian church.
Question: Who do you have in your life that fits the description that Paul paints of the Philippian believers in these verses? Who are you serving Christ with that brings overflowing joy? You can leave a comment by clicking here.