Philippians 1:19-20
"For I know this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death."
In spite of imprisonment for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul demonstrates the unwavering faith available to any believer surrendered to the Spirit's touch. He's not teaching a lesson here, though it is full of Godly principles, but is living out his faith in a difficult circumstance.
Most of us get torn up inside, and maybe even on the outside, when we've been treated unfairly. We understand getting a speeding ticket when we're driving too fast, but rue the day when we're pulled over in innocence. The indignity of it all! Well, that's where Paul finds himself, in prison, accused of raising up mobs against the government. Falsely charged, when all he had done was make a stand for Christ.
But in the midst of this trial, we see Paul's faith in the Spirit's touch upon him. First of all, we see a faith which is established. His faith in Jesus Christ remains unmoved in spite of the unfairness of it all. Paul remains confident the Spirit will supply all he needs, even in this situation. And that doesn't mean he was betting on being released, for he admits that even in his death, Christ could be magnified.
Paul also mentions that his faith in the Spirit's supply keeps him from shame. Like all humanity, Paul understood the great effect that shame has on all of us. We live in the fear of shame—that we'll be found less successful than others, that we stand out as being less attractive, that our intellects don't measure up, or our sports prowess makes us the last chosen for a team. We naturally fear shame. And what could be more shameful than being forgotten in a prison cell?
When we remember that it is the Spirit who supplies, we never need be ashamed, for we know God is bringing about just what he desires for our life, even when it isn't what we expected.
Many people today face the shame of unemployment, not because of inadequacies at work, but from the realities of a slumping economy. In particular, men fear running into a former co-workers and having to explain they still don't have a job. The shame is real.
Still, maybe this is God's way of calling us back to trust in his supply.
LORD JESUS
Lord, I ask you to give me the faith I need to trust in your supply, realizing that when I depend on you, that in all things there is no need to be ashamed. Amen.
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