"...it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be MAGNIFIED in my body, whether by life or by death." Philippians 1:21 NKJV
I have a regular habit in my life to go outside on a clear night, lay down on my driveway, and look up at the stars. Stargazing causes me to dream, long, pray, worship, and wonder at their grandeur, beauty and the infinite glory of my creator's brilliant design. As I observe the vast blanket in the night sky riddled with pinprick little lights I wonder,"what do these stars really look like?" My limited knowledge in astronomy reminds me that there is vastly more to these little bright dots then meets my naked eye. So, occasionally I will bring out my high powered binoculars to get a better glimpse of what is really there. Someday, I would love to have a telescope to catch even a greater glimpse.
Recently, while gazing from my driveway at the night sky, my mind wandered to an amazing statement by the apostle Paul. When the apostle Paul thought of his time here on earth as he wrote to his beloved friends in Philippi, he wrote one of his most inspiring purpose statements, "now as always, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death."
King David was a like minded, God entranced, God besotted, God loving man who echoed a very similar phrase: "I will magnify God with thanksgiving."(Psalm 69:30). Another time he sang in Psalm 34:3, "O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together," This was the heart cry of every Old Testament saint. Mary said in Luke 1:46, "My soul magnifies the Lord." And now it is the longing of every true Christian.
In Philippians 1:20 Paul applies this thought to his own experience, desiring that Christ will be magnified in his body whether by his life or his death. Paul wanted to magnify Christ in the way he lived, in the way he died, and he wanted to show it now and always in his body!
The word "magnify" can be used in two different senses. It can mean: make something appear greater than it is, as with a microscope or a magnifying glass. When I was a kid I used to love to take tiny spiders and put them under the microscope and see their frightening heads magnified. It would scare the daylights out of me. I am glad that spiders are so tiny.
Or it can mean, make something that may seem small or insignificant appear to be as great as it really is. This is what our great telescopes help us begin to do with the magnificent universe that once upon a time spilled over from the brim of God's glory. Look out at the those pinprick lights with a telescope and you begin seeing an amazing world that is vastly more glorious than what you see with the naked eye: nebula's, red giant stars, white dwarf stars, binary star systems, comets, distant and vast spiral galaxies, novas and supernovas and all are glorious to be seen.
So there are two kinds of magnifying: microscope magnifying and telescope magnifying. The one makes a small thing look bigger than it is. The other makes a big thing begin to look as big as it really is.
So when Paul Paul does not mean: "I will make a small God look bigger than He is. He means: "I will make a big God begin to look as big as He really is." We are not called to be microscopes, but telescopes. Christians are not called to be con men who magnify their product out of all proportion to reality when they know the competitor's product is far superior. There is nothing and nobody superior to God. And so the calling of those who love God is to make his greatness begin to look as great as it really is. The whole duty of the Christian can be summed up in this: feel, think and act in a way that will make God look as great as He really is. Be a telescope for the world of the infinite starry wealth of the glory of God.
We may think, “Christ is the Almighty God, Creator of the universe. How can I possibly magnify, exalt or glorify Him?” Think of Him as being a distant star. It may be more brilliant than our own sun, but to the human eye, it is just a dim speck in the night sky. To many in this world, Christ is that way. He is the very splendor of God, brighter than a billion suns. But the world does not see Him that way. So God has purposed that the believer is to be a telescope to bring the truth about Christ into view for the unbeliever. Through us, and especially through how we handle trials, Christ is magnified to a skeptical, unbelieving world. The calling of those who love God is to make his greatness begin to look as great as it really is.
Let us catch this purpose and it will revolutionize the kind of questions we ask in our daily lives. In view of Paul’s circumstances, it is remarkable that his main focus was not on getting released from prison, but rather on magnifying Christ. How can I magnify Christ in this situation, this relationship, this trial? If this world is going to see Christ, they will see Him in our lives. He will be revealed through our bodies. Paul desires that Christ “be magnified in my body” Our hands must be His hands, our eyes His eyes, our mouth His mouth our feet His feet. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “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”. In this life Christ must be exalted and magnified in the bodies of those who believe in Him, or He will not be magnified at all. The reason for this is that God dwells only within His children. And if He is to be seen at all in this life, He must be seen in the lives of those who know Him.
Isn't this wonderful? Does this excite you like it does me?
Paul's passion was that his tongue will speak warmly of his Savior. He will exalt his name in testimony, in prayer, and in preaching. His knees will bend before the great, high and holy Lord. His hands will be zealous in serving the cause of such a Friend. His feet will run messages for the Lord. His eyes will see His glories everywhere and His likeness in all his people. His ears will hear his word and in His heart there will be a melody of praise to Him. Always in his body he will exalt the Messiah.
Oh dear reader, you were made for this and you were redeemed for this. This is your purpose ordained by God for His glory and your soul’s satisfaction and delight! There will always be a serious or mild sickness in your soul until you embrace this calling. So be encouraged, be focused, Let Christ be Magnified Through You! “Now! Always!" says Paul. So let us Magnify Christ now and always no matter what.
Pastor Bill
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