Worthy of the Gospel, Together

When I wrote "let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27), the word I used speaks of citizenship — of living as members of a city, conducting yourselves as those who belong to a commonwealth. The Philippians were proud of their Roman citizenship, so I set before them a higher one. And "striving side by side" is one word, a picture of soldiers or wrestlers standing shoulder to shoulder in a single contest, not each fighting his own private battle but contending together with one soul.

I take up this same citizenship again when I tell them plainly, "our citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20). The gift of suffering — that it is granted to you not only to believe but also to suffer — I sound again when I speak of being heirs "provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him" (Romans 8:17). And this one striving spirit I press upon them once more: "complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind" (Philippians 2:2).

I wrote this in chains, in Rome, under guard — so when I say the suffering is "the same conflict which you saw I had and now hear that I still have" (Philippians 1:30), they knew exactly what I meant. They had watched me beaten and jailed in their own city (Acts 16). Now they faced their own opposition from neighbors who held their heavenly citizenship in contempt, and there were strains among them threatening their unity. So I wrote to a frightened, pressed, and slightly divided people, to steady them.

Here is the honest difficulty: I call suffering a gift — "it has been granted to you" (Philippians 1:29) — and a thoughtful reader recoils, for suffering does not feel like a present, but like a wound. I will not soften it. Read the word again: it is the same root as grace, freely given. I do not say the pain is pleasant; I say it is granted, entrusted, a thing laid into your hands by the God who counted you worthy to share his Son's road. Weigh it against the whole verse — it is granted that you should believe in him and suffer for him, and the two are bound together. You cannot have the fellowship of his death and refuse its shape.