Philippians: Living for What Really MattersParaugs

Want to know how mature you are in your faith? See what it takes to rob you of your joy.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is famous for its statements about joy, but his words should really make us consider the depth of faith those statements emerged from. Paul was imprisoned in Rome two times, and he was martyred at the end of the second time. This first time, he was under house arrest. And this house arrest wasn’t like Martha Stewart being confined to her sprawling multi-million-dollar estate for five months. Paul was chained to a guard twenty-four hours a day for two years. 

In Philippians 1:12, Paul proclaims that everything that has happened to him “has really served to advance the gospel.” He certainly doesn’t sound like a guy who feels defeated after losing his freedom. But how on earth has his imprisonment advanced the Kingdom of God?

If Paul had been able to share the news of Jesus freely around Rome, he would have reached many of the normal, everyday people of the city, to be sure. But in prison, he had the ear of the most specialized and hard-core group of soldiers in the entire Roman Empire. Paul spent 17,520 hours of one-on-one time with those who worked in Caesar’s household and reported to Caesar himself. Over his two-year sentence, he likely had as many as two dozen guards—high-ranking officers who could spread his message to countless others in high-ranking positions. (MacArthur, New Testament Commentary: Philippians, 60)

Even if these guards didn’t ultimately believe in the Good News of Jesus, any publicity is good publicity, right? After being chained to Paul for hours, these men would have heard every part of his story, every part of God’s work, every part of what these Jesus followers believed. Even speaking negatively about the gospel would have spread the gospel. God can use any interaction to His benefit and open even the hardest of hearts.

In Philippians 1:14, we read that Paul’s bravery in sharing the message of Jesus during his imprisonment encouraged the entire body of believers. God can do incredible things when even one person lets their love for Jesus overcome their fears. 

What struggles in your life have amplified God’s Good News to those around you?