Advancing the Gospel

Have you experienced discouragement or been afraid because you've seen/sensed persecution of Christians in the world around you?

If so, please read the following words (I pray you'll be utterly heartened):

Saul.
Have you heard of him?

He was once an influential persecutor of Christ-followers. That qualifier most definitely changed when he had a pivotal encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. Struck by the light of Christ, the person who used to write death sentences for Christians, by the grace of God, became the apostle Paul, arguably the most prolific New Testament writer used by the Father to encourage and breathe life into His children.

Yet, these writings of his came at a great cost, so great a cost.

He suffered much.
He was . . .

attacked.
ridiculed.
imprisoned.
shipwrecked.
impoverished.

Aware his contemporaries, not unlike you and I, might feel sorry for his lot in life, Paul adamantly wrote:

"Now I want you to know, 

brothers and sisters, 

that what has happened to me 

has actually served to advance the gospel. 

As a result, it has become clear 

throughout the whole palace guard 

and to everyone else 

that I am in chains for Christ" 

(Philippians 1:12-13, NIV).

Whoa! 

His suffering . . . advanced the gospel.
His seemingly unfortunate change of position in life was used by the Father to carry forth the mission of the gospel.

Yes, it was evident to everyone Paul's sufferings were serving a greater cause -- that is, knowing, truly knowing, intimately knowing Christ crucified.

"I want to know Christ -- 

yes, to know the power of his resurrection 

and participation in his sufferings, 

becoming like him in his death, 

and so, somehow, 

attaining to the resurrection from the dead" 

(Phil 3:10-11, NIV).

Do you and I desire to know Christ that intensely and intimately?
Do you and I accept the noble task of being in "chains" for Christ?

Instead of belaboring real and perceived attacks thrown our way, might we see upsetting and confusing events as incentives to desire Christ more intensely? Might we look at insults, jabs, epithets, blows, policy changes and other forms of 'attacks' as holy reminders of our being in "chains" for Christ? Might we pray instead that our hearts would forgo the delicacies and elevated positions of this earth in deference to the sufferings intended by the Father to broadcast the news of His most benevolent grace?