Boasting in a Supplying Member of the Body

 Bible Verses 

Phil. 1:24  But to remain in the flesh is more necessary for 

your sake.  (25)  And being confident of this, I know that I 

will remain and continue with you all for your progress and 

joy of the faith,  (26)  That your boast may abound in Christ 

Jesus in me through my coming again to you.

 

                                                                                 

  Words of Ministry

What does boasting [v. 26] refer to? The Greek word has a 

threefold meaning: boasting, rejoicing, and glorying. When we 

boast, we are glorying, and when we are glorying, we are 

rejoicing. Here Paul says that the saints' "boast may abound 

in Christ Jesus in me." In this difficult verse lies a deep 

secret concerning the experience of Christ. If we would 

experience Christ, we, the believers, must be able to boast, 

rejoice, and glory not only in Christ Himself, but also in 

someone in Christ. This boasting is related to the crucial 

fact that what we receive of Christ is not received directly 

in Christ, but is received from the Head through other 

members of the Body. Hence, we receive spiritual blessing 

from the Head through another member. No doubt, Paul was a 

very important member of the Body. If he had been lost to the 

Body, the Body would have been deprived of a very important 

means of spiritual blessing.

Our physical body illustrates how members can be a means of 

supply to the Body. The arm, for example, is such a means of 

supply for the fingers. Apart from the arm as a means, the 

fingers cannot receive any supply from the head. As an 

important member of the Body of Christ, Paul was such a means 

of supply between us and the Head. If we did not have him, we 

would lack an important channel of supply.

During the time of Paul's imprisonment, Gentile believers, 

like those in Philippi, were boasting in Paul. They could 

boast in Paul because he magnified Christ and lived Christ to 

the uttermost. Because Paul lived Christ and magnified Him in 

this way, he could transfuse Christ into the saints and 

minister Christ to all the churches. Therefore, the saints 

had reason to boast in such an apostle. If Paul had died 

prematurely, their boasting in him would have been cut short. 

But as long as Paul continued to live, they were able to 

boast in him in Christ. The same should be true of every one 

of us. It should matter to the church whether we live or die. 

But this depends on our living Christ, magnifying Christ, 

ministering Christ, and transfusing Christ from the depths of 

our being into that of the saints. If we experience Christ 

and enjoy Him in this way, it will make a difference to the 

church whether we remain or go to be with the Lord.