Joy comes from knowing that God is sovereign and designs our good even during times of trial, pain and difficulty. Philippians 1:12-18
Even if we do not see what God is doing or how any good comes, our faith gives us hope that he is at work even beyond our sight. A favorite verse of many
Christians is Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. This verse is
precious because it gives us hope in difficult situations. When we cannot see what possible good our suffering might have, we look to God is
sovereign over all his creatures and all their actions. We look to God who loves us enough to send his Son that we might have everlasting life.
Romans 8:28 does not say that all will be pleasant. It does not say that all things will work out the way we want them in the end. It says that God will work them for
our good because he has called us according to his purpose in Christ. The passage later defines our good as making us more like Jesus. That is how all things work
together for us.
Our Text basically tells us the same thing. Paul was God's anointed apostle. He had plans for doing God's work. And he had a lot of difficulty and suffering as he
tried to do it. He was beaten by mobs, thrown into prison, shipwrecked, starved, cold and even left for dead. He wanted to take the gospel to Rome, but he had not
planned on being carried there as a prisoner. Sometimes our suffering is a result of our sin. Sometimes it corrects us. Here it seems that Paul's suffering results in
another way for people to hear the gospel.
Paul is being guarded by the Praetorian Guard. This is the elite outfit that guards Caesar. They all come in and take their shift with St. Paul. For months they come
and go as part of their tour of duty and responsibilities. Paul could view them as the symbol of Roman oppression that keeps him from sharing the gospel. He could
resent them as the enemy. But he does not because they are not the enemy. They are sent to Paul by God so he could share the love of Jesus with them. The end
result is that many of them believe.
Paul rejoices because he sees God at work in his situation. If he had come to Rome on his own steam, he would have preached the gospel with the Jews of that city.
He may have shared with some God-fearing gentiles. He might have had an occasion to talk to the learned men. But would he have had an opportunity to share the
gospel with those connected to Caesar's household? It was beyond his dreams. How could he get an opportunity to talk with members of the Praetorian Guard?
How could he get them to listen and hear about the Lord Jesus?
God had a way. It was through Paul's suffering and imprisonment that these elite soldiers were assigned to stay with Paul, and held captive to listen to him. Christ in
Paul shone through so that even elite soldiers would know that Jesus is Lord. And some become believers.
"All well and good for Paul. He saw what happened and then could rejoice. But what if he were in my situation?" we ask. What if he was chained to a hospital bed
with IV lines and monitors? What if he were chained to a desk job, or as a waitress or a student or . . . Or maybe it doesn't matter what causes the chains. Perhaps
it is our attitude in whatever situation God places us that is the real key.
Remember that Paul was unjustly thrown into prison when he was first in Philippi. The Philippian jailer was one of his first converts to Christ in that city. Paul and
Silas sang while they were in jail. They rejoiced because the love of Jesus was in their hearts and overflowing. They viewed the jailer, not as their enemy, but as one
who needed the gospel of Jesus. They shared and he received.
Paul's suffering encourages us by his example. In v 14 we read that because of what was happening to Paul and to the guards, many grew bold to share about Jesus
Christ. They needed an example. We need an example. Perhaps the suffering we endure places us in a position to share the gospel with an unbeliever.
Perhaps our example will encourage a believer to share the love of Christ with someone that they know.
We need to prayerfully focus on what God is doing, not on our situation. Even if we do not see what God is doing or how any good comes, our faith gives us hope
that he is at work even beyond our sight. When we begin to do that, we begin to know the joy that Paul is speaking of throughout this letter. We can see with eyes
that know God is in control. In all our trials, we know that God will use his Word to further his kingdom. And we are in that kingdom. This is our reason for joy.
Pastor John Howard Dawson, 5-6-01