“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a mamer worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (Phil. 1:27a)
That first word, “whatever”, encompasses everything! That includes times that are extremely difficult, times when I am treated unjustly, times when I am disrespected to times when things are going extremely well, and when I am blessed beyond measure. This verse tells me how I am to “conduct” myself – how I am to respond. And guess what, just like yesterday’s verse that says that what happens around us is not as important than what happens in us, so also our external situations and circumstances should have no bearing on our conduct. Regardless, our conduct is to reflect the worthiness of the “gospel”. And how worthy is the gospel? Oh my, it is worthy of praise and thanksgiving to God because it has pulled me from the pit of hell and isolation to the heights of heaven in an eternal and intimate relationship with my heavenly Father. It is worthy because it has made the greatest sacrifice for me. It is worthy because it has done the most worthy thing for the most unworthy person. There is nothing that can compare to the worthiness of the gospel short of the Author of the gospel Himself.
Father, help me to live in a way that no matter what happens throughout the day, I will respond in a manner worthy of the sacrificial, life-giving, all gracious gospel of Jesus Christ.