Making the Best of Things

Scripture:

Philippians 1:12-14

I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear.

Observation:

Paul was writing to his dear friends in Philippi while in prison in Rome. His concern was not for himself, but for those whose lives he had touched. He didn’t want others to be discouraged by his circumstances. He also probably understood that he would not be the only one who might experience imprisonment and so he wanted to show the ways in which God could be at work. 

As a result of his imprisonment, Paul made every opportunity to preach to those guarding him. The whole imperial guard had now heard about Christ. He had reached an entire group of people who were insiders to the work of the Roman system. 

As word trickled out about Paul’s witness, even while under guard, the rest of the Christian community was emboldened. Now, they were speaking the word to those around them, and without fear. 

Application

I can’t imagine what life must have been like for Paul. It could not have been pleasant and I’m quite certain that under the same circumstances, I would not have been looking at the bright side. It’s far too easy to get caught up in difficulties and allow yourself to get down and frustrated. This means that people would not hear the good news of Jesus, but they would hear my own personal whining and complaining. 

Yet, I’m fascinated by Paul’s ability to see opportunity in everything. Why not begin to preach to the guards? Suddenly Paul had access to a group of people who never would have heard the good news. How often do we find ourselves in situations that we see as negative, but God just may see as opportunity? 

Paul served as a channel of God’s prevenient grace in reaching out to a community of people who needed to hear the good news. God wants to use us as well, to be channels of grace. When we offer our lives as living sacrifices to the Lord, then we begin to see that our circumstances may be opportunities to be poured out in service to God. 

I don’t think that Paul “loved” his circumstances, but he learned to make the best of them. He embraced every opportunity that God provided to share with others what Christ had done for him. He prayed, lived and moved in the power and the presence of Christ. He learned in every situation, to make the best of things. 

Prayer:

Lord, there are times when it’s easy to get discouraged. Please, give me a heart and passion like Paul’s. Give me the vision to see the opportunities, and not the obstacles. Amen