Have you ever allowed your circumstances to cloud your view of God? It is easy to do. We are selfish beings born with a sinful nature. We tend to push toward the path of least resistance. A path that fulfills our immediate desires, but the end result is not the best. Our focus becomes skewed by our desire for comfort. We fail to see God in all our circumstances because we are short sited by our own goals. It is refreshing to see someone who looks at a situation and sees the hand of God at work.
In Philippians 1:12, Paul begins to tell the Philippian church that what is bad in the eyes of man, God has worked out for good. The good that he is talking about is advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ. He has been able to spread the gospel to those who are in prison and to the Roman guards. I’m sure he was such an unusual prisoner that the guards talked with one another about his testimony. Most people that were chained to a guard would be angry, bitter, seeking to find an opportunity to escape, or in constant sorrow over their circumstances. Paul was the kind of person that took his bad circumstances and used them for the glory of God. He saw this as fulfilling God’s purpose for his life, not as a bad deal.
Philippians 1:12-13 “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.”
He continues to tell the Philippians the good that is coming from his imprisonment. In verses 14-17, he informs them of those preaching Christ outside of the prison. Some were becoming bold in their preaching proclaiming the truth about Jesus. Paul’s imprisonment had given them a greater reason to step out in faith and push forward in the ministry Paul was willing to give his life for. There were some that were using this opportunity to promote Christ out of selfish ambition. It was their opportunity to be in the limelight. Some were secretly pleased he was in prison, and he knew this, but even if they were trying to advance themselves while Paul was out of the picture, it didn’t bother Paul. He was thrilled the gospel was going out.
In Paul’s estimation of the happenings of the day, there was much to rejoice about. In verse 18 he proclaims that he rejoiced however the truth was proclaimed, and to give us a picture of how much it pleased him he repeats that he did and will rejoice in the future. I can almost see Paul as he writes this letter. His excitement is almost more than he can contain. I can hear his conversation with the guard. I think it went like this.
Paul: Wow, people thought it was a terrible thing for me to be in prison, but this is awesome. While I’m in here people are getting busy taking advantage of my incarceration. Some may think it bothers me they are getting attention. The government thought it would stop the spread of the gospel, but it has taken off like wildfire!
Guard: Why are you so happy? You’re in prison.
Paul: yes, I know, isn’t it amazing how God works! This is too good to be true.
Do I let my imagination run wild? Maybe, but I don’t think I stretched it too far. Paul is so joyful because God is using what man meant for bad, and he’s using it for good. He’s willing to endure anything if it means Jesus will be proclaimed and exalted. Paul saw the good in what others saw as bad. His desire was to magnify Christ either by life or death. He was so certain of his eternal destiny it didn’t matter to him which one God chose for him. He would rejoice and see the good God was doing. His attitude makes me want to shout a great big Hallelujah! I can’t help but remember the verse Paul penned in Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Philippians 1:14-20 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
