Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. (Philippians 1:12-14)
“How can this be good?” Are you wondering that about your life right now? I bet you have at some point. You know God’s promise that he works all things out for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28), but it sure doesn’t look that way in your life. One struggle after another. Holes that you can never seem to climb out of. The doubts form in your mind. “God’s working for good? How can this be good?”
If anyone had the right to feel that way, it was the apostle Paul. He was supposed to be a great missionary, yet as he wrote the letter of Philippians, he was chained up. He had lost everything, including his freedom. How was he supposed to share God’s Word now? How could this be good?
Actually, it was! Despite his chains, Paul wrote, “What has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.” Really? How? “As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.”
How could chains be good? Paul’s chains actually gave him a captive audience. He shared God’s Word day after day with the guards chained to his side. In addition, his chains encouraged other Christians in their struggles. They more confidently proclaimed the gospel too. So even chains were good? Yes!
Dear Christian, I know that your life is not going according to your plans. There are days when you wonder how anything good could come out of what you’re facing. Remember that our God saved the world through a cross. Our God uses even chains to advance the gospel. May God give you confidence in Jesus today to proclaim the gospel without fear even in your chains.
Dear Jesus, you used a cross to save the world. You used chains to advance the gospel. Even when I can’t see it, help me to trust that you are using everything for my good and the good of your kingdom. Amen.
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