Even though they had seen how the Lord brought Paul out of their own prison, the Philippians were apparently dismayed to hear that Paul was again a prisoner, this time in Rome. So Paul pointed out that the Lord was again using chains to reach people with the good news that Jesus has redeemed the entire world by His blood and freed it from the chains of sin and death. Heaven is ours! No chains can change that!
Christ had risen from the dead, and by Him Paul was appointed to a life-time position in the palace of His Lord, whom he now joyfully served. This became known throughout the Roman palace because Paul was imprisoned there.
Are you in chains? Are there circumstances in your life, not your fault, that prevent you from doing or achieving what you would like? Use the chance to show your joy in the Lord. After all, the world expects you to be cheerful when there are no hindrances.
Perhaps your chains are not a direct result of your witness for Christ, or maybe you have even forged some of the links in the chain yourself (so you are at fault). How you deal with this (your repentance and trust) can also lead others to their Savior.
So...
In every condition—in sickness, in health,
In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth,
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea—
The Lord, the Almighty, your strength e'er shall be. |
