“The question we need to ask as we look at all the ups and downs in life is, What is my purpose? If we look at our challenges without knowing our purpose, we won’t know how to interpret them and might easily be overwhelmed by the difficulties they present. . . . [Paul] was called to advance the gospel, and because he knew this was his purpose, he interpreted everything through that lens.”- Chip Ingram
“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.”- Philippians 1:12 (NIV)
As Chip Ingram moves on in Chapter 3 of I Choose Joy, he presents the second key that helps us determine whether we live with the joy Christ promised us.
Key #2: Purpose. In regard to the concept of purpose, Chip calls Philippians 1:12 Paul’s thesis verse. Most significantly, the word advance in the text comes with a military context. So, advance means to cut down all the trees and clear all the brush that impedes the army’s progress. Therefore, Paul stresses that his imprisonment, never served as an obstacle in itself. Instead, it helped clear away the obstacles impeding the spread of the gospel.
Furthermore, as Pastor Ingram explains:
“From Paul’s perspective, the good news was reaching ears that otherwise would not have heard it. Paul was called to reach gentiles with the gospel message — not a set of instructions about how to live, but a happy proclamation. . . . For people in Rome’s inner circle to hear it, gospel preaching would need to be placed in their midst. . . . Paul saw himself as one of those messengers. . . .
If God had been using him to advance the gospel through preaching, training disciples, and planting churches, He would continue to use him to advance the gospel through his imprisonment.”
Today’s question: How does a biblical perspective help you to navigate the ups and downs in life? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “An attitude of hope and joy”