Pause for thought
Rather than allowing his situation to get the better of him, Paul did not get bitter or give up. He had faith that God was in control and even though his circumstances were far from good he saw them as another opportunity for the spreading of the gospel 1:12.
The devil thinks that by bringing difficulties, or by putting sicknesses on Christians he can stop us spreading the good news and sharing our personal testimony of “what Jesus has done for me”, the church will always increase when it is under pressure! The same applies to every Christian who doesn’t allow unbelief or bitterness about their circumstances to take their eyes off Jesus, Keeping our eyes on Jesus means we will see the bigger picture and realise we were in Gods will all along 1:13-14.
Not everyone who preaches the gospel preaches from the same pure motives as Paul, some preach to build their own reputations. In Paul’s day some ridiculed Paul as they preached Christ hoping to cause Paul extra pain. But because Paul was certain that he was in the centre of Gods will even though in prison he was able to give praise for however and by who ever the gospel was preached. Paul was “Mr Great Heart” like him we should be equally pleased when the gospel is successfully preached by ourselves or others of a different church 1 Corinthians 1:12.
Thought for the week
We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. Chuck Swindoll
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End Times Bible Truth with Robert Spiller 