Daily Devotional

Why does he do it? Why does Paul write to the Philippians as he does, from his prison quarters? Why doesn’t he just give up, and call it good enough?
I think as far as Paul is concerned, nothing has changed. He gave his life to Christ and the gospel years earlier. This imprisonment is just another arena for him to accomplish his calling. So he writes to the Philippians.

Philippians 1:12-14 – "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 throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 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."

Paul is writing to his partners in this gospel ministry of his, esteeming their “partnership in the gospel, from the first day until now.” Philippians 1:5. Then he writes this, “I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partakers with me." Philippians 1:7 NASB.

The gospel is being proclaimed to a new arena of people he could never have witnessed to! And it spread among those, to others whom Paul would never meet. Moreover, the brethren looking on, seeing his example, became more confident instead of less so. They have “far more courage to speak the word of God without fear,” he declares.

What a model of determination! What a lesson on perspective! Paul is not lamenting his loss of freedom, or the threat of execution, always in the wings. He is not expressing concern about the conditions in which he is living. Having been put into a place against his will, he considers it God’s will for him, and focuses on how he is to serve Christ and the gospel while there. It reminds me of other heroes of the faith, like Daniel and Joseph. They all went about their calling.

Since I wrote last in my April 28th devotional, which I declared was the final one, I was asked to write another. This one, to be turned in no later than my last day of work! Things have changed for us. We put a deposit down on an apartment, in Fresno! Our house will go up for sale. We will move about June 30th. Unexpected just days ago! A little faster than we had possibly planned, and something we were not even sure we would ever do. But in perfect timing in the Spirit. It does stress us, especially as we also have a trip to No. Carolina planned in mid-June.

So, as we are suddenly in this changed position, we hope to emulate Paul’s “Gospel of Christ” fixation! We cannot declare ourselves up to his standard. But we strive toward that high bar. Lynn and I rarely start on the same page in things. But we are together downsizing, toward our benefit and that of our family, who will one day step into being our caretakers, likely. But on a larger scale we surrender ourselves to God’s way, and look for “the greater progress of the gospel” in our new world. I wrote a declaration in my journaling that we are being “streamlined for service.” Hebrews 12:1. In these new quarters, and a community we could not before have impacted.

As our abilities decline and our new world seems to make us more “confined,” we look as Paul did to see the blessing and new opportunities that God Himself has provided. We did not take these steps out of our own focus. We feel very strongly together that this is a sovereign work of the Lord. We would like to say to you today, and when the change is complete, “Look at what the Lord has done!”

You can benefit us by your prayers (Philippians 1:19). Maybe we can bless you by our example, as humble as it is, in our new unknown path. Be blessed!


Read: Philippians 1
Sing: I Know Whom I Have Believed, by Major D. W. Whittle (James McGranathan)

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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