Skip to main content

Daily Devotion: Philippians 1:12-14

By

Philippians 1:12-14    "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;  (13)  So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;  (14)  And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear."

Do you ever wonder why things happen in your life? I think we probably wonder about that more when bad things happen; more so, than when we are in the good times of our lives.  As we read this book of Philippians, again understanding that Paul is in prison, he doesn't ask "why" this has happened to him.  In verse 12, he tells us why this happened to him: "the things which happened unto me have fallen out ... unto the furtherance of the gospel."  Can you imagine? Paul is saying, "I am in this prison cell so I can preach the Gospel to people that I would have otherwise never met." What a concept!

Can you see how selfless the Apostle Paul was concerning the preaching of the Gospel?  He said, "By my bonds (chains) in prison, my bonds (chains) in Christ are manifest (openly seen) in all the palace, and in all other places."  Be certain, there is a great difference between being bound by man and being bound to Christ. One tries to imprison and the other liberates to a glorious freedom that is experienced by following Christ. Paul had been made free, in Christ, to boldly preach the good news of redemption in Christ Jesus to others who had been imprisoned - including the prison guard. As a result, many others became bold in sharing their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of Paul's boldness, others were freed from the prison of fear to do what the Lord called them to do.

How is it with us today? Are we free in our thoughts, habits, and traditions in order to follow the leadership of God? Is there something that is preventing us from enjoying the complete freedom and joy that is found only in Jesus Christ?  If so, what is it? You don't have to answer to me, but if there is something holding us back from the glorious freedom and peace of Jesus Christ, is it not time to lay it down - give it to Jesus - that it might be healed and we might be delivered into His joy, peace, and love?

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Daily Devotion: Colossians 1:25-26

By
Colossians 1:25-26    “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;  Even   the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:” In verse twenty-four, Paul has expressed his joy in bearing hardship for the church. It is of this church, the body of Jesus Christ, that he is made a minister. Since Paul used the phrase “made a minister” in verse twenty-three of this same chapter, it seems there is something important that he wishes to convey. The Greek word translated as “made” means “to cause to be.” It was the will of God (Col 1:1) that caused Paul to become a minister. God is always the cause of true ministry. Although our fathers may be ministers, if we become true ministers of the gospel it is  not  because our fathers are ministers. True ministers of the gospel do not take that path because they seek honor for themselves, or b...
Read more

Daily Devotion: Exodus 7:6-10

By
Exodus 7:6-10    "And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they. And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh. And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent." Moses and Aaron had begun to doubt whether they were right for the job the LORD had given them. Here, it is evident that God granted them a renewal of their faith. Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them. In my opinion, all truly successful outcomes in our lives begin with this. Moses and Aaron were not young men. Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was eighty-three years old. Still,...
Read more

Daily Devotion (Video): I Will Fear No Evil - Psalm 23:4

By
Read more