“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 plain old coincidence?”
Should a Christian ignore what happens to them? Should I just write off the experience as something that happens to everyone sooner or later? Should you dismissively shrug your shoulders and say: “Oops! I guess it wasn’t my lucky day!” Or should we look at the episodes, events and happenings in our lives from a different perspective? Of course, the correct answer is – a different perspective!
The Apostle Paul had been arrested, and during his incarceration, he writes a letter to the believers in Philippi. Did he write: “Now, dear fellow believers, it seems I’m having a real streak of bad luck. Things keep happening to me, but I tell myself: Paul keep your chin up. Your lucky star will soon appear. Things happen in threes.” Those aren’t his words exactly – in fact, they’re not his at all! Here’s what he writes:
I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel.” Philippians 1:12
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. He could have been distraught over the apparent derailment and curtailment of his ambitious plan to take the Gospel to the masses. With so much work to do, why am I now incarcerated in this prison?
Here are some things he may have thought about:
- “I must never lose sight of the sovereignty of God. God is good all the time. (Psalm 135:3) God knows what He’s doing, and He is in control. 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. God sees that some fine-tuning is necessary in my life.” (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) Check out this Old Testament example: Genesis 50:19-21
- “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 Lord’s presence, considering his confinement circumstances. He could plainly see that he was an instrument God was using to advance the Gospel throughout the world. That’s what today’s verse says: “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” Philippians 1:12 His witness in prison was reaching people all the way up to the Roman palace.
But Paul’s imprisonment wasn’t only about advancing the Gospel. Something else was happening to others beyond the Apostle himself. Seeing Paul’s courage and faithfulness in adversity, other Christians were being strengthened. As a result, they themselves became stronger witnesses for Christ in the community, even if it 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 not be a hindrance or an obstacle. Preserve me from bitterness. Ultimately, Lord, may this situation draw me nearer to Yourself in my daily experience. My desire is to know You better.”
See God in little happenings in your life. See God in big happenings in your life. Paul did, and we can too.
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ,
Peter Ramsay