So Paul has just finished talking about others who preach the Gospel. Whether out of selfish desires or out of a desire to Glorify Christ, Paul says we ought to Praise God the Gospel is being preached. In spite of all of this the last few words of v.18 states, “Yes, and I will rejoice.” Do we rejoice when Christ is preached even though those preaching it are not perfect or have ulterior motives? At least people are hearing the Word.
What we can learn and apply to our lives through these passages is what Paul ends v 20 with, “but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” Brothers, we will not be ashamed when Christ is Glorified in our lives. When He is number one, the circumstances of this life simply do not matter. Paul states in v.19 that he will be delivered, v.20 that he will be not ashamed, and v.20 that he will be honored. How can that be when he is a prisoner of the Roman government? He is in prison for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and yet, he will be delivered, honored, and is not ashamed? How does that work? God will honor those who honor Him.
When we set out sights on honoring God with our lives, there is nothing that can happen in this life that will change His view of us. In this life, we may be but to shame, mocked, beaten, and murdered, but in front of God, when we have accepted Christ and lived through the Holy Spirit, we will be honored, not ashamed, and delivered. As a matter of fact, we already have been on the hill of the skull, Mount Calvary, where Jesus Christ was crucified and paid for our sins. Praise God for this gift He has provided for us. We cannot live for God apart from the work of Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
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