"Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel." Philippians 1:12

How do you and I look at the circumstances that surround our lives? Do we see even in the negative situations that arise the positive purposes that God has placed there? At the time of the writing of the book of Philippians, Paul had been under house arrest for two years. He was most likely chained twenty-four hours a day to palace guards, who would rotate their positions at regular intervals. It is quite likely that by the time Paul wrote this book, he had been chained to most of the palace guards at one time or another. These guards were Paul’s "captive audience" and he used the opportunity to tell them of His Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He goes on in verse 13 to tell us that "it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ!" What a statement that is! His imprisonment has led his captors to the conclusion that Paul was imprisoned for Christ! This can only mean that these guards had come to believe in Paul’s message, one which he no doubt told over and over again. The book of Philippians is a book full of joy. Paul had a joy beyond human understanding, because he saw beyond the circumstances that surrounded him. He saw God’s providences and therein lies the difference. Let us this day look beyond human understanding at our surroundings and see what wonderful opportunities lie in wait for us. Let us seize the opportunities that God puts in our paths and may all the glory and praise rise up to Him this day!

Father, help us to look at life as the Apostle Paul did. Help us to see that every circumstance and every situation is placed there to advance the gospel. That is how Paul was able to live a life of joy and I want that same joy to be mine. The hardships You place in my life are put there so that glory will rise to You when others see me filled with Your joy despite the suffering. May my life bring You glory, as did Paul’s. Amen