Another day, another chapter will be written.
Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. While he longed to be with Christ, Apostle Paul yearned to remain and help believers grow in Christ. Growing in understanding of how God wants us to live and to become an example for Him is what growing in Christ really means.
To magnify Jesus while he was in the body is what Paul's main goal was. That should be our goal also. I heard about a church member that told their pastor “We have some neighbors who believe a false gospel,” “Do you have some literature I can give them?” The pastor opened his Bible to 2 Corinthians 3:2, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:” He said, “The best literature in the world is no substitute for your own life. Let them see Christ in your behavior and this will open up opportunities to share Christ’s Gospel with them.” What a great illustration ...Christian means to be Christ like.
The greatest weapon against the devil is a godly life and a local church that practices the truth... that demonstrates what it believes,” is going to defeat the enemy. The victory has been won by Christ....we just need to keep it on display. Here is a little poem that has kind of stuck with me over the years. You are writing a Gospel, A chapter each day, By the deeds that you do And the words that you say. Men read what you write, Whether faithful or true: Just what is the Gospel According to you?
I wrote Christian articles for a magazine for 4 years in Rising Sun Maryland called the Christian Messenger. Matt Compton a dear friend of mine who was the editor told me: "Ron, not everyone is going to agree with what you write so don't get discouraged if they don't."
I told Matt..it's not them I have to answer to...it's my Lord. We have a responsibly for the truth, to hold on to truth, to be an example of that truth.
The world test us to see if we are real. The world wants to find out if we are what we say we are.. Christians, Christ like... people read what we write every day. Paul said in verse 20 of Philippians chapter , he did not want to be ashamed of his witness while in this life, and he did not want to be ashamed when he came into the presence of the Lord Jesus. If we go through this life in every effort trying to please God in the obedience and the truth of God's Word in our actions...where ever we are...in how we treat others without selfishness and jealously and how we love others... how we cling to the gospel of Jesus Christ with boldness and are not ashamed... then we have no reason to be ashamed when we stand before Him one day. Love in Christ Jesus, Ronnie Miller
