“You’re always wondering why this happened or why that happened. Can’t you give it up and understand that things ‘just’ happen. You’re taking life far too seriously, man. Lighten up! Haven’t you heard of a ‘coincidence’?”
Should a Christian ignore what happens to them? Should I just write off the experience as one of those things that happens to everyone sooner or later? Should you just shrug your shoulders and say: “Whoops! I guess it wasn’t my lucky day!” Or should we be looking at the episodes, events and happenings in our lives from a different perspective? The answer is: A different perspective!
The Apostle Paul had been arrested and during his incarceration he writes a letter to the believers in Philippi. Does he write: “Now dear fellow christians, it seems I’m having a real streak of bad luck. Things just keep happening to me but I tell myself: Paul keep your chin up. Grin and bear it. Your lucky star will soon appear?” Those aren’t his words exactly – in fact they’re not his at all! Here’s what he writes:
that what has happened to me
has really served to advance the gospel…”
(Philippians 1:12) ESV
Paul was living a purpose-driven life for the Lord. He understood that nothing crossed his path by chance, luck or coincidence. He reflected on his arrest and prison term. Here are some things he may have thought about:
- “I must never lose sight of the sovereignty of God. God knows what He’s doing and God is in control and God can do what He wants to do but His activities and interventions are never purposeless.” (Isaiah 26:3)
- “I, Paul am the clay. He’s the Potter and He is skillfully at work in my life.” (Hebrews 13:21)
- “This may be happening to me because some cylinder in the engine of my Christian life may not be performing up to standard and some fine tuning is necessary.” (James 1:2-8)
- “This could be happening to me to further the purposes of God in another sphere, beyond myself. I’m just an instrument He is using to accomplish something else He is doing.” (Philippians 1:12-14)
- “I’m a child of God and maybe as a Father, He is disciplining me for some wrong in my life ultimately for my benefit and His glory.”(Hebrews 12:5-11)
Paul spent time in the presence of the Lord considering his circumstances in confinement. He could plainly see that he was an instrument God was using to advance the Gospel throughout the world. His witness in prison was reaching people all the way up to the Roman palace. And something else was happening to others, beyond the Apostle himself. Other Christians, seeing Paul’s courage and faithfulness in adversity, were strengthened. They became stronger witnesses for Christ in the community even if meant ending up in prison for Christ’s sake. Ultimately all that was happening to Paul was for his good and for God’s eternal glory.
Do not glibly shrug off happenings in your life as a Christian. Spend time alone with God. Spend more time reading your Bible and asking the Lord to speak to you in these circumstances. Be prayerful. We need to pray: “Lord if there is some lesson I am being taught in this situation, then help me to be a good learner. If there is something You are doing that I am not to know about, then help me to trust and to not be a hindrance or an obstacle. Preserve me from bitterness. Ultimately, Lord may this situation draw me nearer to Thyself in my daily experience. My desire is to know Thee better.”
See God in little happenings in your life. See God in big happenings in your life. Paul did and we can too.
Comments
From a lifetime questioner of “Why?”, this Bible Bite gave some solid Biblical answers. Even after being on the Christian road for 13 years, I become baffled when pain enters my experience and begin asking the age old question. These things happen, Paul says, to further the Gospel of Christ. Thanks for the accuracy, clarity, and quality of these Bible Bites!
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