Today I stumbled upon a gem.

But not in my local park where I was sitting taking in the crisp, fresh air whilst taking a legitimate break from the “stay home” directive issued by the British government due to COVID-19. Rather, the gem I stumbled upon was in the minefield of God’s word, scriptures, and it is worth sharing with you all at this time.

The Apostle Paul’s enduring life principle: whether in life or in death that Christ would be highly honoured in His body.

Philippians 1:20
My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honoured in my body, whether by life or by death.

That was it. All he wanted and desired out of his life (or from his life) was to be a platform for magnifying Christ, highly honouring him. Whether in life or in death this seemed to be the apostle Paul’s one burning desire – for Christ to be hugely respected and honoured in His body.

Whatever the situation, whatever circumstance he was was facing, the apostle Paul had it in him – as if he were wired with it – to have the Lord Jesus exalted and magnified, bigged up, in his body.

There was no mistaking this, Paul’s body was for Christ’s highest honour.

Nothing else.

Paul’s constant desire was to give high honour to Christ with his body in whatever circumstance he was – in life as much as in death. The Greek word used here by the apostle Paul (megalynthēsetai) occurs only once in the scriptures. This one word is translated by differing translations as “honoured”, “highly honoured”, “exalted”, “magnified”. Paul was not content with just honouring Christ but honouring Him very highly indeed – “mega” honouring Christ was what Paul was in to. He did not seek self but Christ’s mega-honour.

Paul’s body was dedicated to Christ’s honour.

This begs the question, is this the burning desire of my life, the principle I live by – for Christ to be highly respected, mega honoured with my body, whether in life or in death? Or I just want to live and die for myself?

The apostle Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter and expressed his sentiment – or rather, the principle by which he lived his life. However, this was never meant to be a principle for the great apostle alone but for all who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ….

Romans 14:7 — 8
For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

1 Corinthians 6:19 – 20
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Some of us may need to be reminded and have this truth reinforced in our lives in this testing time we are in at the moment. Whatever the circumstances and the situation we may find ourselves in, we must seek to honour Christ in or bodies.