" Magnifying CHRIST ! "

 

Philippians 1:18-21  "What then ? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, CHRIST is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the SPIRIT of JESUS CHRIST, according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also CHRIST shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is CHRIST, and to die is gain."

     The Apostle Paul's greatest desire was to magnify the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Neither his present circumstance (prison) nor the prospect of more difficult testing's or even death lessened his sincere desire that "CHRIST shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death" (v.20). Is our desire like that of Paul's, or have we been caught up in the spirit of the world today that seeks to exalt and magnify self, churches, men, and movements ? Furthermore, we also hear much about the need for Christians to develop more "self-esteem," but we ought to follow the scriptural example as set forth by John the Baptist: "HE must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30 pictured above). Every believer, as a member of CHRIST's body, the church, should naturally give the HEAD of the body, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the preeminence in all things (Colossians 1:16-18 pictured below).

     We magnify CHRIST when we lift HIM up before the unbelieving world as the LAMB of GOD WHO died for all, the only SAVIOR from sin. We magnify CHRIST when, through our words and actions, we elevate HIM in the sight of all men. We magnify CHRIST when those whose lives we touch praise the LORD and not us. We magnify CHRIST when we exalt HIM rather than our Pastor, our church, our denomination or ourselves. We all can magnify JESUS CHRIST if we will follow the simple exhortation given in Romans 12:1-2 (see picture below).

Only by yielding ourselves to the LORD rather than conforming to the world can CHRIST be magnified in us; furthermore, we learn how to magnify CHRIST by renewing our minds through the faithful study of -- and obedience to -- GOD's Holy WORD. May we purpose to bring "into captivity every thought to the obedience of CHRIST" (2nd.Corinthians 10:5). MHR

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

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