Thursday Devo
Scripture:
Philippians 1
12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.
12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.
Commentary:
1:12 The word Paul uses for the advance of the gospel (Gk. prokopēn) is the same word he will use in v. 25 for the Philippians’ “progress” in faith. He thus underscores the need to push God’s kingdom forward rather than dwelling on past or present problems.
1:13 The gospel has advanced because Paul has let the whole imperial guard (Gk. praitōrion) know that he is imprisoned only because of his testimony that Jesus is Lord. The Latin word praetorium could refer to a governor’s residence and by extension those living in the residence. Those who believe that Paul wrote from Caesarea would understand the word in that sense here (see Acts 23:35). However, the word could also refer to the special guard of the emperor in Rome, as the translation above suggests. (See Introduction: Date.)
1:14 When the Christians in Rome, where Paul was imprisoned, saw his boldness even as his life was in danger, his example inspired them to be more courageous as well, so that they were much more bold in proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.
1:13 The gospel has advanced because Paul has let the whole imperial guard (Gk. praitōrion) know that he is imprisoned only because of his testimony that Jesus is Lord. The Latin word praetorium could refer to a governor’s residence and by extension those living in the residence. Those who believe that Paul wrote from Caesarea would understand the word in that sense here (see Acts 23:35). However, the word could also refer to the special guard of the emperor in Rome, as the translation above suggests. (See Introduction: Date.)
1:14 When the Christians in Rome, where Paul was imprisoned, saw his boldness even as his life was in danger, his example inspired them to be more courageous as well, so that they were much more bold in proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.
Questions:
- Most scholars believe Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians around the same time described towards the end of Acts. As he's in custody and suffering for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ, he's using that time and platform to tell people about that same gospel. He's acknowledging that his suffering has had a positive effect on people, causing them to boldly proclaim the name of Jesus without fear. That's an incredible perspective to have WHILE you are in the middle of your trial. You're probably going through some sort of trial right now. How might God want to shift your perspective of it? How might He be using it?
- Many of us, though we wouldn't say it out loud, behave as though God exists for us, not the other way around. We think that since God loves us He'll give us all the things we want and keep us healthy and blessed. But for the faithful Christ follower, this thinking is completely backwards. God doesn't exist for YOUR purposes. YOU exist for HIS purposes. How can we know if we are truly existing for His purposes? What should the fruit of this be in our lives?
Pray:
- That God would give you HIS perspective of your circumstances.
- That your life would bear the fruit of the One you serve.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
No Comments