In the second half of Philippians 1, Paul gives a brief update about his own life. He is in prison for sharing Jesus with non-Jewish people, and it is possible his punishment might be death. Yet he quickly pivots to another update: he is sharing Jesus with his guards, and those around him. Paul leans into this idea, that we get to follow Jesus. And that whatever life throws at us, we have the opportunity to live for Jesus.
It feels like one of the hardest parts of Christmas growing up was waiting. The Old Testament ends with a cliffhanger. One day God will send a Savior, who will fulfill a litany of promises and prophecies from the Old Testament. But when? There is about 400 years between the time that it is estimated the last book of the Old Testament was written and the arrival of Jesus. Isaiah 53 helps to paint the picture of the coming Savior, and why He was worth waiting for.
This week we get to hear stories of how God is at work in our community, women’s ministry, and through students making their profession of faith.
One definition of integrity focuses on who you are when others are not looking. Part of what this passage invites us to consider is also why we are doing what we are doing. Do we have a sense of why we are doing what we are doing that will guide us and ground us even if no one else is watching, or no one else sees, or we don’t even know the impact?