I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (Philippians 1:12–14, ESV)
Jail? Unjust sentence? Yep, God can use that. There are just some things, or so it seems to us, that hamstring God. Scenarios that catch him napping. The imprisonment of the apostle Paul would seem like one such scenario. Had I been a Christian during those days, my prayer might have gone something like this: "Hey God. So ummmm…you might not have noticed this, but...ummmm...Paul was thrown in jail the other day. I know the Bible says that you're in control of everything that happens (Ephesians 1:11) but I just wanted to double check to make sure you were on top of this one. You probably know this and all, but he's like our cleanup hitter. His faith is strong, he leads people to you by the hundreds and he even writes letters that carry your very authority. I don't want to tell you what to do, but it might be a good idea to put him back into play. If someone's got to go to jail, make it someone, you know, less important...besides me, that is." Admittedly not a spiritual prayer, but probably what would have come from my heart if I was honest. But Paul looked at things through a different lens. He saw the gospel penetrating an unreached group of people -- Caesar's soldiers. Paul's guards were getting saved and taking the message of Jesus' love back to the palace! Additionally, the average Joe in the pew was getting fired up with Paul out of the picture. Plenty of Christians were saying, "Hey, who's going to take his place? If he's willing to go to prison for this message, then why am I sitting around being silent?" The gospel was advancing. So can God use something as awful as an unjust imprisonment for his glory? You bet! What are the chances he's going to use your circumstances for his glory too? I'd say they're pretty good.
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Father God, if nothing in us can win Thy love, nothing in the universe can prevent Thee from loving us. Thy love is uncaused and undeserved. Thou are thyself the reason for the love wherewith we are loved. Help us to believe in the intensity, the eternity of the love that has found us. Then love will cast out fear; and our troubled hearts will be at peace.
-A.W. Tozer As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:20–21, ESV)
The dictionary defines grudge as a "feeling of ill will or resentment." Anyone come to mind? Some of us have been hurt in such a way that we perceive the "right" to be angry and to hold onto bitterness. They stung so I shall now sting back. I refuse to let it go. There's a feeling like I'm entitled to be mad for as long as I deem necessary. The biblical character Joseph could have chosen this path, yet he didn't. He realized such a road is wrought with peril and, ultimately, spiritual ruin. You cannot cling to grudges and linger in the presence of the Almighty. Joseph's brother's despised him for the special favor bestowed upon him by their father. They kidnapped Joseph, threw him in a pit and were prepared to let him die there. A last-minute idea prompted them to sell him to passing slave traders. You probably know the rest. Joseph was sold to a government official in Egypt and continued a life of joys and heartaches, of successes and what seemed like devastating setbacks. However, after the dust settled, he was the vice-president of Egypt and his brothers came from their famine stricken land to his palace begging for food. What did Joseph do? He had the power and opportunity to strike back. He could have vented years of pent up bitterness and hurt. He could have showed them and gotten the proverbial last laugh. Yet he chose to forgive. Not only did he show them kindness by giving them food, he allowed the entire extended family to move into Egypt under his care. I believe that, long before Joseph saw the gaunt faces of his brothers and heard the rumble of their empty stomaches, he had chosen to forgive. We don't know when. We don't know if there were sleepless nights as he fought with God about his right to be mad, his right to hate. But somewhere by God's grace, he decided not to hold a grudge for the awful things his siblings had done. May we know what it is to forgive as we have been forgiven. May we refuse to allow our lives to be destroyed by "the grudge". May we remember the great lengths our God went to forgive us, for his forgiveness was very costly. With God's grace we can turn from bitterness. We can refuse to hold a grudge. |
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