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Philippians 1: 12 (NIV)
Now I want you to know, brothers,
that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
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| When God steps in, the ordinary events of life take on extraordinary significance.* |
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We might believe that good things can result from the bad
things that happen to us, but wouldn’t it be nice if we actually got to see the
results? Paul was writing from prison where his cheery words weren’t just a
positive spin for his readers. His incarceration was a witness to the entire
palace guard and encouraged his fellow Christians to speak more boldly. When
the outcome is not so immediate, we must hold on to our faith, relying on God
to accomplish his purpose.
It is interesting that when we think of the events that
shape us and help serve the gospel, we tend to think of the bad things. Reflect
on your life, though, and perhaps you will realize that the positive may have
had more impact than you assumed. I was changed by the betrayal of a friend; a
broken heart; a failed marriage; but I was blessed with a firm foundation that prepared me
to overcome and rise above and carry on. Without a solid Christian background
and all its advantages, my moments of truth would not have been so shiny.
Whatever influences have been the strongest in your life, it
is time to ask God, “Now what?” How can you leverage the failures and
victories, challenges and opportunities of your past? It is time to stop being
the passive victim of “it happened” and move on to actively advancing the
gospel.
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| We see the world from the perspective of the things we learn.* |
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