Still in the beginning of his letter from prison, Paul writes a bold declaration to the church in Philippi, “I know that this will turn out for my deliverance . . .” Earlier Paul had declared that his imprisonment was leading to the furthering of the gospel, now he declares that he knows that his imprisonment will lead to his deliverance. What I find most important about this declaration is that Paul doesn’t define deliverance, he trusts God for it. He doesn’t say that deliverance is his freedom, or a change in his circumstances, in fact, just a few words later he says that Jesus will be magnified in his body whether by life or by death. Paul has come to a place of joy and trust in Jesus that he is now sure that whatever God does in and through his life will be for his good, for his deliverance and for the glory of God. Paul concentrates on what he knows and that allows him to not be overwhelmed by what he does not know. He knows that Jesus loves him, knows that God had a plan for him and knows that God’s presence will never leave or forsake him. Because of what he knows he does not need circumstances to change for him to have you, he has joy in his relationship with God, not in the actions he desires God to work on his behalf.
Paul goes no to declare that he will not be ashamed but will magnify Jesus in his body. We choose what we magnify. It is our choice what we put our attention on and what we make the largest part of our lives. Paul does not magnify his situation, he magnifies Jesus and because of it he chooses joy and rejects shame. Shame is an outcome of sin and a tool of Satan. It attempts to created death and cause hiding from God’s grace because of fear of rejection. Shame is often cast upon us, but, for those in Christ, shame becomes something that we have been redeemed from that we must now reject at every turn. Shame is never from God and it never works for our good. Paul, even in prison, even while being lied to and about, chooses not to be ashamed. He chooses faith over self-pity and joy over shame. Shame happens to us, but it is our choice whether we live in it or not. As much as we must choose joy, we must reject shame.
Finally Paul makes his famous statement, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” This is a statement of contentment. Paul is saying that his situation will not change his joy. The outcome will not determine his deliverance, deliverance is already the anticipated outcome. Paul is making a statement about his heart, it does not change, about Jesus, He is faithful, and about joy, it is constant, in life or in death. For each of us we have the opportunity to live in contentment and joy. Jesus is our portion and our strength, I pray that we will reject shame and choose joy, that we will find our peace in being loved by God and that we will concentrate on what we know, God is for us and all things work for good, in life and in death, joy is our strength.