Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Saturday, December 21: Philippians 1:27a

"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:"

This is quite a long verse, so I'm breaking it up in three pieces for the next few days. Besides, this portion of the verse can stand by itself. It is universal to all. Let's read it in other translations:

"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ," (ESV)

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." (NIV)

"Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ," (NKJV)

"Above all else, you must live in a way that bring honor to the good news about Christ." (CEV)

A verse that comes to mind when I read this is from the companion letter to the Ephesians. Just after Paul assures us for three chapters of our security in Christ, he moves to the practical: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called," (4:1)

Then he goes on to explain his meaning for us: "…with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Further into that chapter he talks about the "conversation" in which we should dwell: "that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (4:22-24)

I like the wording of "true holiness", for there is all sorts of "false holiness" spread throughout the world: self-abasing works and actions that lost souls do, hoping to "tip the scales" in their favor before their gods, or just in case there is a real God.

But, in Christ we are made holy by His mercy and grace, and that is by a new birth, into a new man. The old man will inevitably fall into sin and death. The new man is renewed day by day through the Holy Spirit, and we learn to put off the old habits of the flesh and put on the new man.

But how do we do this act of "being renewed", and "putting on the new man"? We learn how through the Word of God. We learn to discern what pleases God and what does not, and because of the rebirth by the Spirit we begin to innately know what is of God and what is not, for the new man is "after God created in righteousness and true holiness."

We become "new creatures", or a "new creation"! "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV) And the new creature is equipped with the capacity to choose good over evil. To choose not to sin. For we are no longer under the law of sin and death: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

Some Christians "don't know what they've got", to quote an old Beach Boy song. And it's not a stupid little car, but an absolute new creation in Christ! We can now truly reflect God in our lives and actions! We are His ambassadors. When people see us, they should see a reflection of God.

And the wonderful thing is that they can, when we set our affections on things above, and not on things on the earth. Be heavenly minded so you can be earthly good to a dying, lost world. Bring them from the seen to the unseen. Show them that they can be who they always truly wanted to be, children resting in the holy arms of their Creator, learning the true use of the wonderful, unique body and soul they have been given.

Show them that in Christ they can move from the mortal to immortal. That "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life!" (John 3:16)

And if you do not know our beloved Savior, you can today!

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

Memory Helps:

"Only let your CONVERSATION
be as it becometh
the gospel of CHRIST:"

"Conversation/becometh/Christ". Those three "anchor" words are a mini-statement in themselves. When that is memorized, fill in the rest of the words. Should be a good start to begin memorizing this rather long verse, which we'll finish next week.

To remember 1:27, I'm imagining or drawing a cartoon displaying me with my friend "NiCK" (N=2, K=7, vowels fillers). We both sit on Does (Doe=1 for chapter 1). The "conversation bubble" is linked to both of us, since "our conversation" will "only be as becometh the gospel of Christ". The bubble contains a Bible (I use for "gospel) and a shining cross (I use for Christ). As we progress in the verse, I'll probably be adding more frames. In the meantime, memorize this first line well.