COURAGE TOGETHER
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In the first section of his letter to the believers in Philippi, Paul reflected on the circumstances he was in, that of the believers in Rome he was working with, and then those of the Philippians he was writing to. All of them faced serious dangers and threats.
Each of these groups required courage to live faithfully, to love each other and those beyond their community, and to continue to share the story and message of Jesus.
As he had desired for himself, Paul urged the Philippians to live in a way that was “worthy of the gospel of Christ.” A life worthy of the gospel would include refusing to allow fear of their inevitable opposition to daunt their faith or dim their witness.
Both Paul and the Roman believers would be the Philippians’ role models for growing courage, which is what he was offering them in sharing his stories from Rome, “since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have” (Philippians 1:30). As they faced their fears, dangers, and uncertainties, each group would encourage one another by sharing reports of what they were able to do despite opposition and intimidation, and by praying for each other and for God’s presence and intervention on their behalf.
Together with the presence of the Spirit among them, they would have more courage than they would alone. They would be “striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.”
