To say that Paul lived a driven life probably would be an understatement. I’m guessing that, if they had used the term then, he’d have been considered a “Type A” personality. Even before his encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus he seems to have been pretty driven . . . an up-and-comer in the ranks of the Pharisees . . . taught by the best . . . top of his class . . . with a zeal displayed by few others. Take this “natural” wiring for laser like focus and reconstitute the spiritual DNA from sinner to saint and you have a powerhouse, by the grace of God, for the kingdom of heaven.

I’m reading in Philippians 1 this morning and Paul’s single mindedness is so evident. Brothers, he says, I want you to know that my imprisonment is really furthering the gospel . . . the imperial guard and anyone else associated with my situation understands that it is for Christ that I am locked up . . . and beyond my prison walls, many others are becoming bold to speak the word of life . . . sure, some do it as a way of causing trouble for me . . . but others out of a love for Jesus and a love for the lost . . . bottom line is, it doesn’t matter as long as Christ is declared . . . and in that I am over the top pumped! (Php 1:12-15 PPV – Pete’s Paraphrase Version)

Paul was focused. It all funneled into one grand objective . . . one mission statement . . . one over-arching desire . . .

. . . 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 honored in my body, whether by life or by death.    (Philippians 1:20 ESV)

At the end of the day . . . whatever happened . . . whatever the circumstance . . . Paul’s fueling passion was to honor Christ in his body. The NIV and NASB translates it that Christ would be “exalted” in his body . . . and the NKJV, which I think nails this one, translates it, “so now also Christ will be magnified in my body”.

The original word is megaluno . . . literally to make great . . . to make conspicuous . . . to enlarge . . . to magnify . . . leading to deem or declare great . . . to highly esteem, extol, laud, celebrate . . . leading to bringing glory and praise. Whatever was going down around Paul his heart’s cry was that it would bring honor to Christ . . . that it would bring Him into greater focus . . . that within Paul’s circumstance Christ would be enlarged . . . that Jesus would be mega-sized.

And, whether you’re naturally a “Type A” or a “Type B” or “Type whatever”, as a believer you can’t noodle over this too long before being stirred to want to be a bit more like Paul . . . to wanting to also be a vessel through which Christ is magnified. I’m no Paul . . . I’m not sure I’d want Paul’s calling . . . nor would I want Paul’s confinement . . . but I am me . . . and I have my calling . . . and I have my circumstance . . . and in that, I too can desire that, with the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ within me, whether by life or by death, Christ would always be magnified in me.

Lofty goal . . . certainly beyond my natural ability to power my way towards . . . but with God all things are possible.

So Father, would you mega-size that? By Your grace . . . for Your glory . . .

Amen.