Onward

30 Days in Philippians - day 6

Philippians 1:12-14

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Christians love Jesus Christ. We want the gospel to be proclaimed. We want others to enter the kingdom of God and share in eternal life. That desire is not something we manufacture...it is part of our new nature in Christ.

Because of that, anything that seems to threaten the spread of the gospel naturally unsettles us.

That is where the Philippian church found itself. Paul...their spiritual father, their example, their missionary hero...was in prison. From a human standpoint, this looked like a major setback. If Paul’s ministry was hindered, what would happen to the advance of the gospel?

And if this happened to Paul, what might happen to them? Would they face the same suffering? Would their young church survive it?

Paul writes to steady them.

What he says is surprising: the very thing that looked like a defeat had actually become an advance. His chains did not silence the gospel, they gave it a new audience. The message of Christ had made its way into the ranks of the palace guard. The gospel had penetrated places Paul might never have reached otherwise.

And it didn’t stop there.

Instead of shrinking back in fear, other believers were emboldened. Seeing Paul suffer and remain faithful ignited courage in them. They stepped forward. They spoke more boldly. The message spread further, not less.

This is one of the great patterns of the Christian life: what appears to hinder the gospel often becomes the very means by which God advances it.

That doesn’t mean it always looks the same. It doesn’t mean it is easy. But it does mean this—God is never thwarted.

Two thousand years of church history have only confirmed what Jesus promised: He will build His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

We may not always understand how He is working. Often, we won’t see it in the moment at all. But we can be certain of this: God will take even opposition, suffering, and hardship, and turn them toward the advancement of the gospel.

So don’t give in to fear.

Be faithful where you are.

And rejoice in the Lord.