But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel… Philippians 1:12

The fact that Paul was in jail when he wrote so many of the Epistles is so critically important to our personal walks with Christ. By Paul’s example we might fully understand that any obstacle that presents its self is merely an opportunity to magnify Jesus Christ, and most importantly, that we can have abundant joy regardless of the circumstances.

So Why Are You Down?

Is the situation you are going through really worse than that of Paul’s? This man, who was likely chained to six different Roman guards during the course of any given day, found his joy in the fact that he had six (6) different people to witness to everyday. Paul’s attitude in prison even had an affect on the other inmates as they were emboldened (by Paul’s example) and found themselves sharing the gospel with others.

And of course, if Paul chose to languish over his condition rather than write letters of encouragement and exhortation to the churches, we would not have them as part of the Bible today. The truth is that God allows these things to happen to us because He knows there are opportunities within these challenges to serve and honor Him. The result for the servant is always joy; joy in the knowledge of time rightly spent.

Consider These Words:

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ…you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake… Philippians 1:27-29

Did You See it

The ‘stuff’ you might be going through (or likely will go through in the future) is more-or-less a confirmation from the Lord that you are on the correct path, a privilege granted by Him that we might suffer for a divine purpose, and finally a process of refinement that we ‘get to’ endure.

Is This Suffering

For some of you, parting with one dollar and three cents a day is beyond what you are capable of doing at this particular time in your life—this last message is not for you. But for everyone else I ask, is $32 a month really too much a request in order that one child living in abject poverty might have a chance at hope? What one ‘thing’ might you sacrifice that one child might live?

Prayerfully Consider Finding Joy



COMPASSION dave