Paul continues here in his letter to the Philippians, chapter 1, and then also in chapter 2, to set forth his own example of personal concern, sacrifice, and service on behalf of the Philippian believers.  There are two main thrusts to the apostle’s statement here, one that will lead directly to that great section in chapter 2 on Christ own example of concern and self sacrifice displayed for all in the Incarnation.  The first is his strong exhortation to all believers to consider well how our personal faith in Christ should not stand alone without on-going consequence, but rather should bring forth in each believer an attitude of service and self sacrifice.  Verse 29: “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.”  Then Paul’s personal example is set forth in verse 30 as the introduction to the letter’s exaltation of Christ’s own example as the most important of all: “Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear [to be] in me.”  The apostle’s heart of love for the Philippian believers is thereby intended to powerfully communicate a response in the hearts of these believers to follow Paul in this critically important virtue.  All believers, he is saying, should respond as he had to Christ’s sacrifice of love and reflect that in their own lives of life-service and sacrifice.  In this way it should be ever so clear to all that we stand with Paul and thereby also with Christ.