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used Paul’s imprisonment which appeared to be a great loss to the church, for the furtherance of the gospel. Because of this opportunity, Paul could and did rejoice even in his bonds. In this attitude of the Apostle we may see, to some extent, the character of Paul’s surrender and the beauty of God’s consecration of Paul. Not only in bonds, but also in the treat ment received from vicious brethren, was Paul enabled to rejoice (vs. 14-18). In this passage there is a rebuke of denominational rivalry. It is difficult for workers to re joice when they see their own work seem ingly slighted while the activities of the so-called “opposition” are apparently meet ing with success. But if Christ be preached by the “opposition,” Paul could rejoice. It mattered not to him whether the preaching was done by himself or by others, so long as Christ was being made known. Paul knew it was not the number of souls being saved that spelled success, but the extent to which Christ was made known irre spective of visible results (cf. 2 Cor. 2:14- 16). Furthermore, Paul’s surrender was such that he could rejoice even though his body were made to suffer and though he faced death (vs. 19, 20). Little wonder is it that he was a God-consecrated man when the passion of his life was that “ Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death.” II. C onsecration to the L ord ’ s P erson (21) Because of the sure outworking of God’s purpose, Paul knew that the worst that his enemies could do to him would be in real ity the best for him. He declared: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Paul’s philosophy of life was not a system or a doctrine, but a living, glorious, ever present Person, to whom he fully surren dered not only what he had but also what he was. And his view of life held an af firmative answer to the question which every philosophy must face, “ Does it work?” Centered in Christ, Paul’s life became a triumphant existence, even in the midst of bonds, vicious brethren, impending martyr death, and many other distresses. For Paul, life began on that day when he became identified with Christ through the exercise of faith unto salvation. It continued by means of a growing revelation of Christ, and it would find consummation when he should be transformed into the image of Christ. With this program in view, his con duct evidenced constant surrender to Christ and renunciation of self for Christ’s sake. III. C onsecration to the L ord ’ s P urpose (22-26) Whatever the Lord’s purpose might be, Paul would surrender himself to it. He de sired, for his own pleasure, to depart and be with Christ (vs. 22, 23). He was not tired of the service of Christ on earth but he was tired in it, as Spurgeon used to say of himself. In this passage, there is no hint of soul sleep, rather a strong denial of such a teaching as this. Paul did not desire to die and thus' lose his consciousness of Christ. Death to him would bring a fuller and deeper understanding of Christ and a more
G od ’ s Great Singers G reet Y o u in “Stortesi of Upmnsi 1-obe” By Cecilia Margaret Rudin, M. A.
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intimate fellowship with Him than could ever be possible in life. But the apostle was torn between desires, whether to depart and be with Christ which would heighten his own pleasure, or to stay in this world for further service to the people of God. Turning from himself to the people, he would choose to stay on earth for their sakes (v. 24). T o further their growth and add to their knowledge of the Lord, he would turn back to the persecutions, difficulties, misunderstandings, prison cell, and storm- tossed seas, and “ endure all things for the elect’s sake” (cf. 2 Tim. 2:1). Paul here gives a strong rebuke to the present-day seeking for ease in the service of the Lord. There is little of the constraining love of Christ manifested by us who proudly call ourselves Christian workers. We need some measure of the surrender of Paul which brought to him such a consciousness of the presence of Christ that even the bitterest experience was made sweet thereby. The motto he followed was Christ’s will for His follower, “ Deny thyself,” while the modern motto is Satan’s advice, “ Spare thyself.” One or the other of these injunctions is being followed by each of us. Turning from both himself and the people of God, Paul allowed the purpose of the Lord to be the deciding factor in his view of life and death. Whatever would please the Lord, irrespective of the results either to himself or the people—that would be Paul’s objective. Paul’s surrender to Christ was so complete that whatever the Lord desired, that Paul also desired; whatever the Lord would suggest, to that Paul would say “Amen.” This is the surrender that is sues in consecration. Points and Problems 1. “ The things which happened unto me” (Phil. 1:12). The English reader will notice
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