Philippians 1:19 “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
To Live is Christ is the bottom line of the Christian experience. No matter the circumstances of life it is all about Jesus. Those who are without Christ as their Savior AND Lord do not understand. Paul did not speak so others would know him, but Christ. His actions were always preaching Christ. What is remarkable is from a worldly perspective before Paul accepted Christ, he had it made. He had climbed the ladder of success. He had power, prestige, money, education. People clamored to be with him. People who opposed him feared him.
The Road to Damascus changed everything. Paul writes in Philippians 3:7–10
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.
Paul knew what it was to worship God. Daily living the Christian faith comes from true worship of God.
When Paul accepted Christ, he did not lose what God had given him but turned the worldly things into instruments used to glorify God. He was not satisfied with just a little knowledge of Christ. Paul wanted to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His suffering and even be conformed to His death. Paul knew this life was a stepping stone to eternity with Jesus in Heaven.
This was Paul’s testimony, his mission in life. Paul “pressed on”, he moved forward toward that which God had called him to. He knew God had greater things in store for him that the world could never offer. In verse 14 Paul writes, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” I must ask myself, “What is God’s upward call in my life.”