Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27

Life just happens.  The good.  The bad.  Yes, the ugly, too.

Jesus was a realist.  He said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows” (John 16:33).  So, it’s normal for life to be a journey of hills and valleys. Some people are “if only” people: “If only this or that would happen, then I’d be happy, fulfilled or at peace.”  But Jesus calls His followers to a radically different way of life, one that it’s possible to live only in His power. Jesus followers are to be “even if” people. “Even if I lose my job, even if my parent suffers dementia, even if I am lonely, I will continue to press into and trust Jesus.”

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel,” urges Philippians 1:27. John Beeman calls this The Whatever Life. The Whatever Life is consistent.  It says, first, that life is hard—and sinning makes it harder—but Jesus is Lord. Jesus said that life would be hard—then He said, “But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” His sufficiency is more than enough for our pain.

That is why The Whatever Life can say, I will rejoice! God works in our willingness to rejoice in every circumstance. Elisabeth Elliot used to say, “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.”

So, The Whatever Life acknowledges the difficulties, rejoices in the sovereignty and power of Jesus available to us and then, the Whatever Life stays on mission, no matter what![1]

Jesus-follower, who is walking with you that desperately needs to see you living out The Whatever Life?

[1] Beeman, John. “Whatever Happens.'”  Stonecreek Christian Church, May 22, 2022.  Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.  Sermon.