Philippians 1:12-14

New American Standard Version

12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14 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.

Pastor’s Paraphrase

          As I begin this letter to you, there is something that is very important for you to understand from the outset – what I have experienced, being put in prison, has not turned out to hurt the cause of the gospel but actually has helped to make it known more clearly. Because of what has happened to me – as unjust and unlawful as it was – everyone here serving as a part of the military guard at the palace has learned that I am in prison here for no other reason than my love and faithfulness to Christ. Not only the guards, it has been made clear to everyone in the entire palace.

           As a result of my imprisonment, most of the Christians here have been filled with a new sense of passion and courage to speak out for our Lord. They are doing so with amazing courage and boldness. Any fear that they might have had has disappeared as they have witnessed how God has taken care of me.

 “How does this help me become more like Him?”

          Whether or not people can see Jesus in us is not so much a matter of what happens to us in our lives but rather our attitude about it.  Every one of us, as a part of our journey with Christ, will have times when everything is going great and other times when everything seems to be falling apart.  It is the attitude we choose to have in the “falling apart” times that will demonstrate to others whether what we have in our relationship with the Master really makes a difference in our lives or not. 

          When I think of great saints like the Apostle Paul, Corrie Ten Boom, Paul Wurmbrand, and others who were imprisoned for their faith and yet gave God glory, I feel so weak and unworthy to be His representative.  Then, I realize that God has not called on me to be imprisoned but He expects me to reflect Him in whatever situation He brings to MY life.

          I doubt that many of you who read this today are in prison for Christ.  But the reality is that every one of us either is or will experience very difficult times in our lives.  Believing that God intends to bring good out of every experience of our lives, the attitude we demonstrate in the midst of difficult times will either reveal Christ in us or not.  Our attitude and response will either be a witness and encouragement to other believers as Paul’s was or it won’t.  We will either choose to see God’s hand of grace, mercy, and redemption in the midst of pain and struggle, as Paul did, or we won’t.  We have no control over our circumstances but our attitude is up to us.

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Pray that the Lord would help you to understand that He is in control of every event, circumstance, and situation in your life.  Repent of times in which you have chosen self-pity instead of believing that He had a redemptive purpose for what you were going through.  Ask Him for the kind of faith that would give you strength and complete trust in Him no matter what He allows to happen in your life.

END