Stand Firm

PHILIPPIANS

STAND FIRM

Phil 1:27-30

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved — and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
NIV

Yet another thought from these same verses, because of these being one thought of Paul, yet with so much to contemplate I am impressed to divide some thoughts of my own. First I noticed conducting myself in a manner worthy of the Gospel. Now I see I am to stand firm in one spirit with other believers. The idea of each person being able to stand firm on their own within their own abilities and strength seems to have been struck a severe blow in this statement of verse 27. Standing firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel sure seems to imply each person cannot, should not, must not stand alone. If I think for one moment that I am an island forging through life on my own then, I believe I am in disobedience to the word of God. I desperately need to stand side by side with others, working together, sharing life with others of the same belief in Christ, contending as one, not as many.

Yes, each person has the skills and talents which are individual in nature and may very well be used in such a wide array of areas within life to serve society as well as pursue those individual goals each has within. However these individual pursuits must submit to the greater good of the community of believers, in fact these talents and skills, which are God given can in fact, be used within the body of believers for its own good, a good which serves the function of standing firm as one man. Each person instructing, correcting, serving, promoting and encouraging the other to greater service to our Lord and all this in the face of those who oppose the very core beliefs of the gospel, without fear of how they may react or act toward us.