The salvation of the Philippians the apostle's joy.
I. THEIR OBEDIENCE MUST BE THE READY OBEDIENCE OF LOVE. Christ died for them, God worketh within them. They have the great gift of reconciliation with God through the precious blood of Christ; they have the indwelling presence of God the Holy Ghost. Therefore:
1. It is their duty to be cheerful, to render to God a loving service. A Christian who knows that the Son of God loved him and gave himself for him, has no right to be gloomy and melancholy. There must be no murmurings. The Christian life is a pilgrimage, like the journey of the Israelites from the house of bondage to the promised land, but we must not resemble the Israelites in their constant murmurings against God. Do all things, each duty as it comes, without murmuring. Have a steadfast faith in God as your Father, "who maketh all things work together for good to them that love him;" and in the trustful spirit of a loving faith learn to say, "Thy will be done." Neither should there be doubtings in the Christian life. The intellect, as well as the will, must submit itself. Our knowledge is imperfect, our mental reach is limited; we can see only a very little way into the mysteries of the Divine government; we know in part. We must be content with that partial knowledge; we must not venture to question the love, the goodness, the wisdom of God. When harassing doubts arise, we must go, like Asaph the psalmist, into the house of God; then we shall understand as much as we need to know of God's dealings with mankind. These things are hidden from the wise and prudent, but they are revealed unto babes.
2. Cheerful obedience leads to growth in holiness. If they obey God in all things gladly and lovingly, they will become blameless; others will find no ground of censure in them; their own inner lives will be pure and sincere, without mixture of evil or selfish motive. Simplicity of character is essential. he for God seeth the heart. Thus they will be children of God indeed, like those little children of whom is the kingdom of heaven; a contrast to the crooked and perverse generation among whom they live.
3. They must set a good example. They are lights in the world—others watch them; they attract by their lives the attention of the surrounding Gentiles; they must hold out to others the Word of life. They must exhibit its influence in their lives, in their conversation. They must preach by word and by example, for Christianity is essentially a missionary religion.
II. SUCH CONDUCT WILL FILL THE APOSTLE WITH JOY.
1. It will prove that his labor was not in vain. He glories, not in his own successes or popularity, but in the faith, the love, the obedience of his converts. Such glorying does not fade away; it endures unto the day of Christ. Then, when the apostle presents the Philippian Christians to the Lord, what holy glorying will be his as he looks upon the fruit of his labors!
2. He is ready for such an end to lay down his life, and that with joy. He will rejoice to shed his blood as a drink offering to accompany the sacrifice offered by his converts. That sacrifice is their faith; faith is trustfulness, entire dependence upon God, self-surrender. The sacrifice of faith is the sacrifice of self; the spiritual sacrifice which the children of God, as a royal priesthood, are bound to offer. "We offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto thee." Thus, and thus only, can we work out our own salvation. Such devotion in the Philippians will fill St. Paul with holy joy, though it cost him his life-blood. He rejoices himself at the prospect, he bids them rejoice with him.
LESSONS. Learn:
1. To be cheerful always, never to murmur.
2. To be simple, sincere, truthful, single-minded.
3. To set a good example to others.
4. To rejoice in the salvation of souls.