Most of us admit that the quality of our work is better when our boss is watching. We pay closer attention to details, make less mistakes, check our cell phone less often, work longer, and take fewer breaks when our boss is watching.
Paul mentions to the Philippian believers that he wants them to live obediently to God even though Paul was no longer with them physically in person.
These believers in the city of Philippi had been obedient to their spiritual leader, Paul, and he was grateful for it, writing, “my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence” (Philippians 2:12a, NASB).[1]
This is a gentle reminder for all of us to act the way we should when our spiritual mentor or spiritual leader is not around.
Paul founded the church in Philippi on his second of three missionary journeys. It was the first church established in Europe. In Acts 16 Paul meets a lady named Lydia and other women who were meeting outside the city. He shared the gospel with them, they accepted, and he helped them start a church.
But when Paul writes this letter—Philippians—he is under house-arrest in Rome awaiting trial before Nero. He’s chained to a soldier day and night. While under house-arrest he writes the letters Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Philippians is one of what we call the “prison letters” that Paul writes to instruct and encourage believers that were in locations he could not visit. As the Philippians learn to obey the teachings of Paul even though he was not around, we too need to obey our spiritual mentors even if they are not present with us. Spiritual mentors might have been a small group leader that shared wisdom we needed, someone that discipled us one-to-one for a period of time and gave us guidance, a pastor that gave us instruction in a sermon, or a Bible study facilitator that helped us understand God’s Word on a deeper level. Even though those people might not be with us now, we still should abide obediently to their teachings just as the Philippians were encouraged to do.
[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.