Today let’s consider the book of Philippians. “Living in Christ” is the theme I chose for this book. Listen to Philippians chapter 3:10 where Paul’s prayer was, “That I may know Him (that is the Lord Jesus) and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”
It was Corrie Ten Boom who observed that if a bird is flying for pleasure it flies with the wind, but if it meets danger it turns and faces the wind in order that it might rise higher.
Paul often faced danger, even death, but like the bird he was driven higher spiritually by adversity. Philippians was written from a prison cell where Paul faced the possibility of death for the cause of Christ. His attitude, however, and his concern for the wellbeing of other Christians are inspiring, and the insights he shares are well worth mastering.
You’ll see Christ in the life of Paul more in Philippians than in any other book he wrote and that is what the focus of the book of Philippians is: knowing Christ and making Him known at any cost, in any circumstance. While in prison he influenced his prison guards who were a part of the king’s court. He was convinced that was why God had him there, so he could provide that kind of influence right into the highest circles of the government.
He wanted other Christians to be encouraged by his example to let their light shine where they were. You will find Paul took this very seriously, burdened, even to the point of tears, as he spoke about the destiny of the lost (3:18)
