Philippians 1:13-14, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”
Paul could have written a long letter to the church at Philippi about all of his burdens in being in prison and not preaching and reaching millions of people in Rome, which was his heart’s desire. Instead, Paul wrote about the blessings it provided in sharing the gospel and summed it up by stating, “what has happened to me.” Paul always used whatever situation or circumstance he found himself in to bring glory to Jesus Christ. Paul maintained having joy despite being in a Roman prison twice, beaten, and many times near death. On one occasion he was stoned, and three times he was shipwrecked. He never wasted time and was the best at using it for honoring the Lord Jesus Christ out of devotion and gratitude for God’s saving grace and mercy upon his own life. Paul’s example gave the Christians in Rome, that saw Paul’s imprisonment and realized his life was in danger, more boldness in spreading the gospel. Paul realized his current circumstances were not what was important but how he spent his time about them was.
During Paul’s Roman imprisonment, he wrote letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. 1 Timothy and Titus he probably wrote after his first release from prison, and 2 Timothy was written during his second imprisonment, as he awaited his execution. Paul spent a total of five to six and a half years in jail. Yet, he kept referring to joy throughout the letter to the Philippians. Paul understood the balance between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility and saw the Holy Spirit’s power to answer the Apostles’ expectant and believing prayers during his lifetime (Acts 4:31). What a powerful example he was.
This is a lesson to me in not wasting time throughout my day by grumbling about irritating things surrounding me as I often tend to do. My happiness is not required, but having a thankful heart is. That is how Paul remained joyful. God’s blessings and power were still with Paul in prison, despite his burdens. But the believers in Philippi wondered where the power of God was in this circumstance in Paul’s imprisonment. Don’t we wonder the same with our current unfavorable situations, be it COVID-related or current political events?
God did not waste Paul’s time in the Roman prison. God doesn’t waste our time either, though we may waste it by not understanding God’s purpose, at the moment, in our lives. God used Paul right where he was, in chains, in prison, and he remained joyful. So I am asking myself, how can I be more joyful, use my time wisely, pray expectantly and believingly, and then be enabled to be bolder in sharing the gospel too? That is my takeaway from Philippians 1:13-14.
“The same God who used Moses’ rod, Gideon’s pitchers, and David’s sling used Paul’s chains. Little did the Romans realize that the chains they affixed to his wrists would release Paul instead of bind him . . . He did not complain about his chains; instead, he consecrated them to God and asked God to use them for the pioneer advance of the gospel. And God answered his prayers.” Warren Wiersbe. Be Joyful Even When Things Go Wrong You Can Have Joy. NT Commentary on Philippians.