GOSPEL SIMPLICITY

Philippians 2:12-16 (KJV)
“12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: ...
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”
“Paul explains what spiritual progress will look like. Christian maturity does not come through special mystical insights available to only a few, but rather through the patient practice of the familiar virtues of love and service to others. Paul presents himself as one model for such a lifestyle.” (Introduction to Philippians ESV)
On the cutting edge, Philippi was Paul’s first church plant in Europe. His first convert with Lydia began and connected many others. The space he gave up to see Christ planted in them was not a waste. This is the simple God thing we do, “giving up our space that Christ may be planted.”
Here in America we live in such a time tight society, space has become one of our greatest value. The fear of investing ourselves relationally with others is holding back the precious Christ seed in us.
To carry His presence into the life of another is the greatest gift we can give. What are we giving in this? Everything we have received from Christ ourselves; such as, the peace, freedom, forgiveness, and acceptance. When this is imparted into the life of another who does not have these virtues is when the love of God is at work through us.
Jesus set this example in the space He gave up for His disciples, “…for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” (John 15:15).Jesus gave them three and half years of space. Imagine that, giving up that amount of space to plant something that is still living on and multiplying today thousands of years later.
Jesus emptied Himself and was still yet full. This is how the Gospel simplicity works, the more we give up the more we receive. To empty ourselves makes more room for us to be filled.
Gospel simplicity is not as much about our verbal message as it is our loving and giving actions. Jesus lived the Gospel and He expects us to.