when it is obvious that energy expended in certain directions is wasted, and the Lord does

not ask us to spend our strength needlessly and to no purpose. We need heavenly

wisdom at times like these to take the right course of action.

The Apostle now comes to the most solemn personal reference in the epistle. In his

witness for the Saviour, Paul had spent himself without stint. Here he stresses the fact

that this might cost him his life. While he hopes to be released and visit Philippi again,

he cannot be absolutely sure at this stage:

From this we can see that the possibility of execution is vividly in his mind, but rather

than be afraid or depressed, he rejoices. What a spirit! Spendomai, "if I be offered" is a

word of sacrifice, alluding to the drink-offering which accompanied some of the O.T.

ritual. In no sense did Paul imagine that this had any redemptive value, either for himself

or anyone else, but it did represent the fact that he was prepared to go to the very limit for

Christ, in giving his life, if the Lord willed, as a libation poured forth unto Him, a tribute

of his love and gratitude. However, he did not keep the thought of sacrifice to himself

and his own witness and suffering. He spoke of the "sacrifice and service" of the

Philippians' faith. Later on in the epistle he is touched by the gift they sent to him and

calls it "an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God" (4: 18).

When he wrote to the church at Rome, Paul urged them to "present their bodies a living

sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Rom. 12: 1).

In view of all this, surely sacrifice should mark all our service for the Lord. Can there

be any value in work for Him that costs little or nothing? And it should be joyous

sacrifice too.  The Apostle, though contemplating the possibility of martyrdom, yet

rejoices and bids the saints at Philippi to join with him in such rejoicing (Phil. 2: 17, 18).

How easy it is to get depressed if the Christian way and witness results sometimes in

personal loss!

Yet this touch of sacrifice should not occasion surprise. We should expect it and be

ready to accept it as the normal experience of those whose home is not here, in a world of

unbelief, but, rather, in heaven, as Phil. 3: 20 so clearly indicates. Let us remember that

this epistle teaches us that it is not only a gracious privilege to believe in Christ, but also

to suffer for His sake, if it is His will (1: 29).