What Is Preached Is Christ
“12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.”
Philippians is one of Paul’s prison epistles, written during a time when his circumstances made proclaiming the gospel challenging. Yet, Paul found his greatest joy in the fact that the gospel continued to spread. For Paul, the central focus was not his ministry or personal success but Christ Himself. He rejoiced in every situation where Christ was preached and exalted, regardless of the method or the messenger.
Paul was confident that God’s work would go on, even if he himself could no longer carry it out as before. He was not bound by his circumstances but lived in joy and peace, trusting fully in God’s sovereignty. However, this does not mean adopting an attitude of passivity, saying, “It doesn’t have to be me.” On the contrary, Paul remained deeply committed to his mission. Even in prison, he sought to fulfill his role faithfully, longing to support the Philippian church and to contribute to the body of Christ.
The death and resurrection of Christ, and His power working even now, have shaped the 2,000-year history of the Church. Today, we too are called to center our lives on Christ, entrust our circumstances to God, and participate faithfully in His work. In doing so, we experience the joy and peace that only He can provide, regardless of the challenges we face.
Prayer: Lord, we confess that You are the true source of our joy. In unexpected difficulties and in our weaknesses, we desire to draw closer to You and trust in Your unfailing grace. Open our eyes and hearts to recognize Your abundant mercy so that we may live in gratitude, joy, and peace. Help us to faithfully fulfill the tasks You’ve entrusted to us today and to serve those around us with a Christ-centered heart. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)