Untitled Sermon

James 1:1–4 ESV

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Nilai Banyak Macam Kesulitan yang Menguji Kepercayaan Kita

Feb 21, Manggelum

Pengantar

Dari macam sambutan surat ini di ayat pertama, kita mengerti bahwa surat ini ditulis kepada orang-orang Yahudi yang tersebar diluar tanah air mereka. Situasi mereka cukup mirip dengan kita akhir-akhir ini yang mengalami banyak macam kesulitan, baik secara jasmani, yaitu mental dan badan, maupun rohaniawan dan jiwa.

Pada jaman surat ini ditulis (sebelum AD 50), kemungkinan besar aturan gereja belum begitu berkembang bagi jemaat untuk belajar Firman Tuhan. Sarjana-sarjana berkata bahwa surat ini mungkin ditulis paling pertama, sebulum buku-buku lain di Perjanjian Baru. Situasi itu pun cukup mirip pada hari-hari ini di gereja kita di Manggelum, karena gembala dan penetua sibuk mengatur hal-hal pribadi atau kesibukan lain.

Bagaimanapun situasi itu, satu hal yang paling penting dan sama persis di antara jaman lalu waku surat ini ditulis pertama oleh Yohanes, salah satu adik Yesus, dan sekarang adalah seperti ini: Kita tinggal di dunia, dimana ada perang rohani antara Iblis dan Tuhan kita. Perang itu sudah dekat penyelesaian dan Tuhan akan pasti menang, namun makin mendekati akhir perang, makin besar pertengkaran juga. Kita masing-masing orang adalah seorang pengikut dalam perang itu di pihak Tuhan, maka kita akan mengalami macam-macam kesulitan. Apabila kita mau tahan dalam perang ini, pasti akan ada yang mau melawan kita.

Anggaplah itu sebagai konteks atau ladang dimana kita berada. Kita harus pikirkan sesuai konteks, apakah kita sedang naik longbotkah, atau kita tidur di rumah tinggi adatkah, tergantung itu perlakuan kita harus beda. Kita tidak lompa di dalam longbot yang sedang jalan seperti kita main-main di atas tanah, atau kita tidak akan jalan mengelilingi rumah di atas rumah tinggi itu seperti kita tinggal rumah modern. Seperti itu juga, ayo kita pikirkan dulu bahwa kita tinggal di dalam semacam ladang perang secara rohani, dan bagian Firman Allah yang kita baca itu juga masuk akal ketika kita ingat konteks itu dengan baik.

Ketika kalian ketemu Percobahan/Ujian

Sebagian pertama sesudah salam langsung mengatakan semacam percobahan. Terjemahan lain memakai kata 'ujian' juga. Arti kata ini apa? Seperti penjelasan dalam bahasa Wambon, itulah macam kesulitan untuk melihat apakah orang yang mengalami kesulitan itu dapat menguasai atau tidak.

Kalau bisa menguasai atau tahan kesulitan, dia diketahui bahwa dia berkualitas sedangkan jika tidak tahan, dia gagal membuktikan bahwa dia berkaualitas. Maka kesulitan yang sering datang itulah bukan hanya ada tanpa maksud, tetapi dengan maksud yang baik dan tinggi.

Maksud Ujian Itu: Apakah engkau akan lanjut percaya kepada Allah?

Maksud ujian itulah pertama tentang kepercayaan kita. Maka, ketika kesulitan itu muncul, pertanyaan yang masalah itu taruh dalam hati dan hidup kita itu adalah apakah kita akan lanjut percaya kepada Allah.

Menghadapi segala macam ujian melalui kesulitan, ada orang yang memilih cara membereskan soal itu. Tetapi ada banyak orang yang ambil solusi secara melawan pengajaran Tuhan kita. Misalnya, orang yang lapar, dia bisa mencuri makanan milik orang lain. Orang yang ingin menikah namun miskin untuk membayar uang kepada keluarga, atau orang yang ia sayangi tidak mau menikah dengan dia, orang laki-laki itu dapat paksa memakai perempuan itu. Dari pada bekerja lajin untuk makanan atau orang yang dia sayangi, orang yang mencuri atau paksa memakai orang lain melakukan hal-hal yang melawan Tuhan. Itu sebab, ujian ini bukan ujian hal lain, tetapi tentang apakah ia orang yang percayakah atau tidak, apakah dia masih menyenangkan hati Tuhankah atau menemukan kemauan dirikah.

Respon Kita ketika Menemukan Macam-macam Ujian Itu: bergembiralah!

Kita biasa reaksi bahwa merasa frustrasi, sedih, dan sampai marahi kepada orangatau situasi yang mendatangkan kesulitan. Kita sampai mengeluh kepada Tuhan bahwa Dia menaruh hal itu atau paling sedikit mengijinkan hal-hal sulit itu dalam kehidupan kita.

Tetapi, lihatlah buku Alkitab ini dimana Yohanes berkata bahwa 'Bergembiralah sangat!' Sebenarnya, bukan hanya dia berkata begitu, tetapi Tuhan kita Yesus sendiri berkata, misalnya di Lukas 6:22 "Berbahagialah kalian kalau dibenci, ditolak, dihina dan difitnah oleh karena Anak Manusia! [BIMK]"

Kita tidak bisa mengerti kenapa kita bergembira walaupun kita ketemu kesulitan. Sebenarnya siapa antar kita berdoa untuk orang lain, khususnya orang yang sayangi untuk menemukan kesulitan, kesusahan dalam hidup mereka? Tetapi baik Yokobus, maupun Tuhan Yesus, dan berbagai buku-buku Alkitab mengatakan begitu. Alasannya tujuan Allah yang Dia akan buat melalui kesulitan itu.

Tujuan Ujian Itu: supaya kita mendapat ketekunan hati

Maksud Tuhan adalah akibat yang baik, yaitu kekuatan hati. Inilah bukan hanya 'kesabaran', tetapi kekuatan untuk menujuh untuk melengkapi sampai tidak ada kekurangan dalam sifat kita di hadapan Allah.

Salah satu hal yang jemaat-jemaat sering salah mengerti adalah pikiran bahwa orang akan pergi langsung ke sorga jika orang percaya kepada Tuhan Yesus dalam hati. Mereka hampir tidak mengakui bahwa mereka perlu tumbuh sebagai anak-anak Allah. Maka mereka mau diselamatkan secara gampang bagaimanapun mereka hidup atau lakukan sesudah mereka mengaku merekalah orang percaya.

Apabila kita membaca buku Yakobus ini terus ke bawah, dia melawan pikiran yang salah itu. Dia berdebat bahwa coba kasih lihat kepercayaan engkau supaya orang lain tahu orang itu benar-benar percaya. Hanya berkata 'percaya' dengan mulut itu 'menipu', katanya.

Maka, kalau kita setujui bahwa kita semua harus tumbuh sebagai anak-anak Allah dalam bangsa Kerajaan Allah, kami juga dapat memperhatikan perkataan ini; pertemuan kita dengan macam-macam ujian melalui kesulitan yang tanya dan uji apakah kita orang Kristen benar-benar, kita bersukacita.

Kesimpulan

Kita perhatikan bahwa Yakobus memilih kata dengan hati-hati. Khussus, dia menulis "Kalau kalian menemukan macam-macam ujian ..." Macam-macam ini terdiri baik ujian dalam hati dengan keinginan manusia dan di bidang badan atau sosial, misalnya nama-nama ditinggikan, dihormati melalui kekayaan, dsb.

Apa ujian itu hari-hari ini untuk engkau? Apa percobahan itu untuk gereja kita akhir ini? Dan apa masalah buat masyarakat kita di Manggelum ini sekarang?

Apakah kita bertengkaran dengan masalah atau tantangan itu, atau akan mendengar firman ini, dengan pikiran 'Ah, inilah sebenarnya kesempatan untuk membuktikan bahwa saya dan kita orang percaya kepada Tuhan? Jangan kita gagal oleh kemauan manusia atau keinginan di dunia ini, tetapi kita membuktikan kepercayaan dan dapat akibat dari percobahan itu, yaitu kekuatan sampai lengkap sebagai anak-anak Allah dan umat Allah.

Semoga Tuhan memberkati ketika kita bergumul tetapi tahan, dan terus melihat muka Tuhan pada waktu-waktu kesulitan. Tuhan hidup, dan Dia akan memberi kita masing-masing mahkota-Nya. Amin!

1 John ESV

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Findings

The message of 1 John has much to speak to us living today. Along the historical context in which the message was written (see my highlights in MJL), it shows special concern about and interest in true Christianity in terms of having fellowship with God through Jesus Christ.

The theme is presented in a way the author responds to the inquiry of his own; that is what it is that he wants to proclaim about Jesus Christ. That mattered most to the author is that Jesus is the word of life and the eternal life. The 'life' in his sense was something experienced in fellowship and that had revealed Christ's fellowship with his Father. The author asserts that the life in fellowship invites further the audience into it today.

Implications

MJL pointed it out well how applicable this message is to the audience today. Regardless of the differences of the philosophical background and the religious trend between then and now, the reality of Christianity is not a mere set of theological understanding nor liturgical formalism but life in action. The life in fellowship with God through Christ is to experience ourselves and witness to the world around us in practice. (Aug 29, 2015)

1 John 1:1–4 ESV

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Finding

The epistle of John is peculiar in addressing the subject matter without the typical greetings found in Pauline letters. Why? Perhaps because of the proximity with his audience (that did not require much formality) or urgency (that might have not had room for unnecessary words), or in an effort to keep his message straight towards the matter in his mind?

No matter what the reason was, his point is clear from the outset. That is what he wants to talk about and how it is relevant to his audience. His message is to proclaim what he along with others -that he calls 'we'- has 'experienced' about the 'word of life' that is also called the 'eternal life'. And the purpose of this message is to complete 'our joy' which often reads 'your joy' in other important manuscripts.

It is obvious that the author wants his recipients to understand the reality of his experience; through the repetitive expressions of how 'we' have heard, have seen with eyes, have looked at, and touched, in nearly every verse in this introductory part of the letter. It is real as testified to by the manifold witnesses.

What has been revealed? It is the word of life that turned out to be the eternal life that brought to light the fellowship of the life with the Father. That is what the author has observed is the eternal life in the bodily form of Jesus Christ in fellowship with the Father; likewise, the author was invited to this fellowship. And further, he wants to extend this fellowship to his audience, the readers, with confidence that it is to complete their joy.

Application

What is it that we aim for while coming before God, or even while serving God? Fellowship with him is the matter. Yet, most regrettably, it has been forgotten for long while we have been attempting to please him with conducting something that is tangible and measurable somehow. It's an upside-down phenomenon and unfortunately it prevails in the lives of church and christian families.

How should we correct this? Some of the key steps will be explained in the following passage of the epistle. Yet, one thing clear here is to correct our vision and perspective on the essence of our witnesses about Jesus Christ. He is to be known the word of life and the eternal life; life in the sense of 'living' not 'achieving' or an 'accomplishment', and the life in fellowship with the Father, not a corporation to carry out a business, that is the holy union itself.

What are some small yet practical steps for us to correct our vision, so that we would be in tune with that of John, the Biblical author? (Aug 27, 2015)

1 John 1:5–2:2 ESV

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Findings

The audience needs to understand the truth that a single condition for them to take part in the fellowship is 'walking in the light'. Such a life begins with confessing sins with one another as the host of the eternal life is the one who reconciles the sinners with God.

Confession of sins is the starting point of the life as well as what warrants one to walk in the light, not in the darkness. It seems to fit well the Greek present tense-aspect that not to sin is not a life that is absolutely free from sins but not committing sins intentionally, that is staying in the darkness. Instead, walking in the light is a life of confessing sins with one another, relying on and trusting in the power of the blood of Jesus who cleanses us from sins.

Applications

What should we start from, to help ourselves live a life walking in the light of God? How can we encourage ourselves to confess our sins, not only to God but before the community, in a trustworthy manner? (Aug 29, 2015)

Galatians 6:14–15 ESV

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Relevance of this passage to the audience

A whole serious argument that involved theology and Biblical stidies may end up truned to be just a showmanship; a showmanship for better reputation with regard to one's piety and his leadership for influence.

Acknowledging true means of salvation, that is not through one's work but through faith in Christ, gives us the right foot for our attitude on what we should only and truely be boastful for.

Further, it defines

Some are preaching … want to help.

Philippians 1:15 ESV

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.

"Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful." (John Wooden)

Here Paul says that even some Christian evangelists are moved for envy and jealousy while apparently they may look eager for Christ. In the same manner, Some Judaizers reported in Galatians (6:12) craved for fame.

As such, envy for fame can easily take a form of religious eagerness which turns into conceitedness or self-righteousness which Paul repeatedly warned his readers.

But that doesn’t … makes me glad.

Philippians 1:18 ESV

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Don’t stake your life on the trivial. This is Paul's view of life, the chapter #1.

While others might have been upset about personal insults or obvious competitions, Paul looked at the outcome of all things. He did not care even if he became a victim for the desired result. The same attitude is revealed in v12, that his suffering has brought about a progress in spreading the good news.

Whether I live or die

Philippians 1:20 ESV

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.

Paul's view of life chapter #2.

Consistency beyond his life as to what he wants to do or be. It was the source of energy that did not fail him to pursue the kind of life no matter how terrible challenge he faced. His goal, whether he lived or died, was to bring honor to Christ.

If I live, … gain even more

Philippians 1:21 ESV

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Paul's view of life chapter #3

The worse the situation, the greater depth of grace he found through the reflection of the truth.

Philippians 1:24–25 ESV

But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,

Paul's view of life chapter #4.

Life is viewed as means of assisting others. It is not viewed as an opportunity for craving for material gain, nor for vain fame that would result in conceitedness only (as some foolish religious practitioners). In other places he confesses that he will take pride in nothing but the cross of Christ. The only means that he hopes to bring such glory, then, is the growth of the church and brothers to whom he taught the good news. That he regarded as the fruit of his life.

This series of Paul's view of life is quite contrasting to ours. Aren't we busy to obtain something for our own name or satisfaction? Aren't even our practices for Christ a measure of getting attention and a good reputation? When our life is at stake, do we have the goal whether we live or die? How consistent are we with it?

Philippians 1:27 ESV

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,

Words in vv27-28 are encouragements to apply the same view and attitudes in the life of the Philippian believers. Note the key words are reiterated throughout the verses.

Calibrating the goal of 'whether or not' in a practical level of their life, that is 'whether Paul may be able to visit or not' to honor the good news of Christ; ironically providing courage to fellow believers and fear to non-believers through their confidence, and even not avoiding the sufferings for Christ in imitation of Paul as an example.

Be aware of the presenting order of the principles. Preparing our hearts and set the consistent goal to honor Christ and the good news regardless of our life stages is the center for transformation. Then such a life is not only for Paul but also for us.