Scripture:
Philippians 1:12-14
Now I
want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the
greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the
cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard
and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the
Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God
without fear.
Insights: Paul did not view his imprisonment as a
confinement, but rather as an opportunity for new advancement of the
gospel. Paul could have viewed his
circumstance as this horribly wrong and unjust limiting of his personal
freedoms. Instead, however, he viewed
his situation as God redeeming all of his events for His glory. Four times a day Paul was given a new guard with
which to be chained. He had a captivated
audience to share the love of Jesus.
Paul is in this particular prison because he appealed for his case to be
taken before Caesar. As a result he also
had contact with officials in Caesar’s court.
If Paul had not been in this prison, he would have never had the
opportunity to witness to these particular people. He would never have had access to them. God’s love for those guards and royal
courtiers was so great He allowed Paul to go through this difficult time. God was refining Paul and making him an even
better evangelist for the sake of the gospel.
Paul’s imprisonment also encouraged other believers to spread the gospel
more courageously and fearlessly. What a
testimony Paul had in the midst of this trying time in his life. Warren Wiersbe writes in his commentary on
Philippians the secret to such a dynamic life.
These are his words, “The secret is this: when you have the single mind,
you look on circumstances as God-given opportunities for the furtherance of the
Gospel; and you rejoice at what God is
going to do instead of complaining about what God did not do.” Do you
see the difference in focus? One is a
woe is me mentality regarding the difficulties of life. The other focus is, God what are You going to
do to wow me today? When we view life
from this latter view point, opportunities for the advancement of the gospel
come into play. Beloved, live with the
same single minded purpose as Paul did.
Advance the gospel no matter what circumstance you might be facing. Let your life bring glory to God.
Questions:
- What opportunities has God given you for the
advancement of the gospel?
- Are you allowing God to refine you in order to be a
better proclaimer of the gospel?
Prayer: Father, I do
not enjoy the difficult times you allow me to walk through, but I am thankful
for them. You mold and shape me in the
crucible of life. May I be transformed
more into the image of Jesus as a result and proclaim You more boldly. Amen.
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