Skip to main content

Philippians 1:25: Convinced of This, I Know I Will Remain


Philippians 1:25
[25] Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, (ESV)

This verse begins with an interesting phrase. Paul says he is convinced. What does that mean? Is this part of the divine revelation that he has received to pass on to the Philippian believers? Is he convinced because God told him this directly? The answer is that Paul does not claim supernatural revelation in this verse. Yet, he is certainly filled with hope that he will remain.

For Paul, any confidence that he will remain on this earth means that there are things to do. The other day my wife asked me if I had a bucket list. I suppose that is what happens when you get older. Every day on this earth is one day closer to my last. I could not come up with anything for my bucket list. My Philadelphia Eagles already won the Super Bowl so I think I'm good.

Joking aside, what should be on the bucket list for every believer in Jesus Christ? As long as we remain we should continue with other believers, for their progress and joy in the faith. It is so important for us to not lose sight of our purpose here. God has established the Church. He purchased her with his blood. He wants her to be a vibrant and victorious church. We are the Church and our bucket list is caring for one another.

It would be very easy to put together a list of things that you may want to do before you leave this Earth. Maybe you want to go sky-diving. Perhaps you would like to tour the world and see the "seven wonders." It could even be a meeting with a famous person that you would desire. Do you realize that even greater than all those things is the daily opportunity you have to support your brother and sister in the their growth in the faith.

Bucket lists. Paul had one. It involved the growth of the Church. Ask the Lord to show you how you can have the same bucket list. He can use you to strengthen others.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co