Philippians 1:26-30 “That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”

Text Philippians 1:27 “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”

Have you discovered that life is not always simple? There is the constant choice of, “Do I do what I want to or do I please everyone else?” Making the right decision is important because every choice has consequences; success or failure, honor or shame, life or death!  Like us, the believers at Philippi were struggling with the daily conflicts associated with life. To assist them, Paul gave three simple principles in Philippians 1:27. The first principle is the mandate of Christian living, “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.” Choices become a lot simpler when we realize that it’s not about pleasing you or me; it’s all about pleasing the Lord! He is pleased when we live like a citizen. The phrase “let your conversation” means to behave as a citizen. In most cases it is easy to tell when a person is of another nationality. Their dress, their speech, and their customs tell us that this is not their home. Jesus said to His disciples, “ye are not of the world” (John 15:19). The gospel of Christ has made us citizens of heaven and God wants us to live like heavenly citizens! The songwriter was right, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.” The mandate of the Christian life is live so that others know that you’re not of this world! While it is impossible to please everybody, it is imperative that we please one and that is the Lord!