Who Will Go For Us?

May 19, 2016

Who Will Go For Us?

“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ”

Philippians 1:27a

The culture in the USA is becoming increasingly hostile to the Christian movement. The followers of Jesus had a profound influence on both the initial settlements in America and the eventual founding of the US. That influence shaped the prevailing culture in the US until the post-Civil War era. Since then the prevailing culture has been increasingly anti-Christian. Paul’s words in today’s passage to his friends in Philippi are certainly apt for our times as well. I receive Paul’s words from two perspectives.

First, now, more than anytime other period in my lifetime, our culture is in desperate need for the followers of Christ to hear again the call, “Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8a). In answering this call, Paul reminds us there will be consequences: “For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him” (Philippians 1:29). Now, with our eyes wide open, let us commit to respond, “Here I am. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8b).

Secondly, when Paul encourages us to not be intimidated in any way by our enemies, he includes our enemy within which continually wars against our new life in Christ. We are challenged each day to do our part to be transformed by the renewing of our minds as we choose to believe that what is true for Jesus is just as true for his followers. By keeping our eyes on Jesus, and joyfully participating with the Holy Spirit’s transformation of our lives, we will conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.