Live Worthy of the Gospel

Scripture — Philippians 1:27 (NRSV)

Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel.

Devotion

The city of Philippi has a distinctive history. Located in Macedonia at the top of the Aegean Sea, it was a strategic place over which nations fought major battles. One of those battles happened in 42 B.C. during a Roman civil war. After one side prevailed, Rome settled many of its military veterans in Philippi. Other prominent Romans joined them. In time, Philippi became a legal Roman colony, administered by Roman officials. Philippi represented Roman power, extended Roman financial prosperity, and spread Roman culture throughout the region of Macedonia.

Rome made its presence known in Philippi through Philippian citizens who were also citizens of Rome. It was a dual citizenship arrangement.  Now, in the Roman world, you weren’t automatically a citizen of a city just because you lived there. Citizenship was a reward given out to civic leaders, retired soldiers, wealthy influencers, and public benefactors. So, to be a citizen of Philippi was an honor. But, for the city of Philippi, the fact that their citizens were also citizens of Rome . . . now this was something to boast about. Citizens of Rome received special honors and special privileges throughout the Roman Empire. Though they continued to make Philippi their home, their primary identity was defined by their Roman citizenship. They were citizens of Rome . . . in Philippi.

This historical background helps us understand what’s going on in Philippians 1:27, though it can easily be missed in English translations. Philippians 1:27 reads in the NRSV, “Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” The Greek verb translated here as “live your life” is actually rare in the New Testament. It is closely related to the Greek word meaning “citizenship.” The New Living Translation of Philippians 1:27 captures the sense of the verb in this way: “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.”

Like those in Philippi who were honored to be citizens of both the city where they lived and Rome itself, we who have received God’s grace through Christ have dual citizenship. We are citizens of the place where we live and of heaven. This leads us to ask, “How should we act if we’re citizens of heaven?” Paul answers this question in Philippians 1:27. We are to live “in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” We are to be people whose daily living is an expression and demonstration of the good news of God’s grace in Christ. In all our situations, in all our challenges, in all our interactions, in all our words and deeds, we are to live as citizens of heaven by putting the gospel into practice. The people who work with us, live with us, or see us in the market should sense that we are living distinctively because we have embraced the good news of God’s love in Christ.

In this light, let me encourage you to consider the following questions.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project’s online commentary. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Do Your Work in a Worthy Manner (Philippians 1:27–2:11).