“Are you going through a difficult time right now? If so, you might not be able to see how God wants to use you to advance His purposes — in your life or someone else’s — but that will probably become clear if your respond to the pain or injustice with an attitude of hope.”- Chip Ingram
“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 1:13-14 (NIV)
Chip Ingram continues in Chapter 3 of I Choose Joy as he observes that the apostle Paul’s claim that his circumstances advanced the gospel quite possibly raised some eyebrows. Therefore, Paul presented three exhibits in support of his thesis statement. Today Chip looks at Exhibit A.
Exhibit A: The gospel goes forth. Chip notes that we tend to read the New Testament through a twenty-first century lens. As a result, we think the ancient Romans could choose whether or not to receive the Christian gospel. But, Chip states, it’s a little more complex than that. Hence, it helps to understand the context of the passage because it sheds some light on Paul’s challenges.
In imperial Rome, emperors wielded absolute control. Above all, by Paul’s time the Roman Senate conferred divine (or semi-divine) status on the emperor. Furthermore, a complex network of Greek and Roman gods interwove with this imperial cult. Also, by the AD 60s, the Jesus sect, called ‘the Way,’ represented a small sect on a vast and diverse landscape.
Thus, Paul believed his imprisonment strategically embedded him into the power center of the Roman Empire. Because the whole palace guard and everyone else knew Paul was there to preach the gospel.
So, Paul’s zigzag journey served a very straightforward and positive purpose. God used Paul’s circumstance for the furtherance of the gospel.
Today’s question: What Bible verses help you develop an attitude of hope and joy? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Clarifying the body of Christ’s focus”