Meeting 7/11/20
Phil. 1:19-21
"For I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
So, it's only by prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit that Paul will be successful in perseverance and purpose. That's a good reminder for us. It's not going to get done by power or our own might, but only by His Spirit and prayer.
I see real faith and humility in the next point. Paul eagerly expects and hopes that he won't be ashamed. He's determined to have courage, but he understands the flesh's weakness in the human condition. Surely, he knows grace personally by now! Another good reminder for us. Persevere and be dogged in your determination, but give yourself grace when you fail or don't meet the standard of your hope. Get back up, dust yourself off, and get back to it. God knows the miracle you are participating in. He has created this wonder of using a human vessel to effect the spirit world.
What a great example of not pursuing selfish ambitions! His humble, but lofty goal is that Jesus Christ be exalted in his body. Amazing. He desires to be a living sacrifice to his God and Savior, whether in life or in death. Ah, what God can accomplish through one life surrendered to His hands. May we take on this same attitude and commit ourselves to Him to be used as He wishes. It's a life worth living, full of purpose, meaning, and satisfaction. Christ lives in us and through us! And when we die, we gain. Bring it. Let's do this!
