I’ve never been thrown in jail. I’ve never even been arrested, so it’s hard for me to imagine what one goes through when they have broken the law and have to pay for it with incarceration. What’s more, I can’t begin to fathom the feelings one might have if arrested and placed in prison for something they did not do. It would wreak havoc on your mental health. Nevertheless, when you read the letter from Paul to the church in Philippi, you get a different picture.
Paul writes, “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… (Philippians 1:12-13a). It seems that Paul’s attitude was not affected by the circumstances. As a matter of fact, Paul says his circumstances have turned out even better than what he thought they would be. When he says his circumstances are “greater,” he must have had a certain expectation when he was arrested and imprisoned. However, when in prison, Paul uses this opportunity to teach the gospel of Christ. The one thing Paul is most passionate about is sharing the message of Christ, and what would seem like a horrible situation has actually turned out for the better because he can reach people he might not usually be able to reach.
Now that is a great perspective. It’s too easy for us to take a horrible situation and mope around with nothing good to show for our time and energy spent sulking. Let’s be more like Paul and turn whatever stumbling blocks ahead of us into stepping stones, making our circumstances out to be for the greater progress of the gospel.
I know that’s a challenge. It challenges me for sure. Anything worth doing is worth doing right! Let’s do this right!
I love you,
Alex