What is worthy of the gospel? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Philippians 1:27,

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel
of Christ."

Here is a simple statement by Paul in his exhortation to his readers
to live their lives in such a way that would be pleasing to the Lord.
After all, we need to acknowledge something Paul says in this letter a
little later, "it is God who works in you to will and to act in order
to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:13. God has his agenda and
it is his desire we participate in it. God's agenda doesn't exist for
our purposes, we exist for it.

So, the question I have for myself this morning is, what exactly is
worthy of gospel of Christ? What is the gospel worth? Here are some
things mentioned by Paul in this letter alone that helps establish the
worth of the gospel to each of us:

-- Through the gospel, the good work God has begun in us will be
continued by him, in his faithfulness to us, to completion at the day
of Jesus Christ, 1:6.

-- We all share in the riches of God's grace, 1:7.

-- We will be found to be pure, blameless and filled with "the fruit
of righteousness" on the day of Jesus Christ, 1:10-11.

-- Because of the gospel, our deaths will be our gain, as it was
Paul's, 1:21. We will be saved by God, 1:28.

-- We have encouragement by being "in Christ", 2:1.

-- We have comfort from the love of Jesus Christ, 2:1.

-- We have a "common sharing in the Spirit", 2:1.

-- We experience tenderness and compassion, 2:1.

-- God works in us to fulfill his good purpose, 2:13.

-- We become "children of God without fault", 2:15.

-- We have "the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus", 3:8.

-- We have a righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith -
not on our performance, 3:9.

-- We attain to the resurrection of the dead, 3:11.

-- Christ Jesus takes hold of us, 3:12.

-- We have a prize for which God has called us heavenward, 3:14.

-- Our citizenship is in heaven, 3:20.

-- Jesus Christ will transform our lowly bodies to be like his
glorious resurrected body, 3:21.

-- The peace of God "which transcends all understanding", will guard
our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, 4:7.

-- God will meet all our needs according the the riches of his glory
in Christ Jesus, 4:19.

Here are nineteen items to consider as I think of the worth of the
gospel. Not an exhaustive list to be sure, but nineteen items Paul
happens to mention in this letter to the Philippian church. Look at
what the Lord gives us through his gospel if we but respond to it and
embrace him in faith! These things are of greater worth than all of
which the world pursues today. Living my life worthy of the gospel is
a call to make choices that can never exhaust the value for which the
gospel represents to any one of us.

I'll bet we can add many things to Paul's list here. What would you add?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com