After greeting the
Philippian church from a prison in Rome, Paul wrote that what
happened to him resulted in the furtherance of the gospel. In chapter
one and verse thirteen Paul shares how widespread his bonds became.
He wrote:
The
verse begins, “So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in
all the palace,...” Paul
continued his thoughts about the spreading of the gospel by letting
the church in Philippi know two benefits of his “bonds in
Christ” or “devices or means
of restriction because of the cause of Christ Jesus”. The first was
they were “manifest”
which means “apparent, recognized, evident or known” “in
all the palace” which was
“"head-quarters" in a Roman camp, the tent of the
commander-in-chief”. When cities were conquered the victors often
took over palaces and set up governors and other leadership within
them. Paul conveyed the idea that everyone who was in the palace knew
the reason he was in prison was because he shared the gospel of Jesus
Christ.
The verse continues, “...and in all other places;”
In addition to “all the palace”, Paul wrote that his
bonds were known “in all other places” as well. Those who
dwelt in the areas surrounding the palace and the location where Paul
was incarcerated knew about his imprisonment as well. Paul saw his
occasion to be in “bonds” as an opportunity to share the
gospel with any and everyone with whom he could share Jesus Christ.
We often
think of an arrest as a bad occurrence, and it usually is. However in
Paul the apostle's case it was used as an occasion to share about
Jesus Christ. Prisoners were usually chained to a Roman guard to
prevent escape as they sat in prisons, and Paul saw this as a
“captive” audience. He told them of the love, grace and
forgiveness that is offered through receiving Jesus Christ as Savior
and Lord. Perhaps as we think about Paul's words we might do well to
ask, how would we be if we were suddenly arrested for being a
follower of Jesus Christ? Would there be a furtherance of the gospel
because we were contained? Would people know about our “bonds”
“in all the palace” and “in all other places”?
Perhaps as we think about these things we may be inspired to examine
how well those around us know our witness of Jesus Christ while we
are not imprisoned, and from that examination may we be inspired to
share the love, grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ with everyone
to whom life chains us.
Next
time Paul shares how the brethren reacted to Paul's bonds, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on
the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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