Jan 27 Get Me Out of Here

January 27 

   Happiness is a Choice

Php 1:12 ¶ But I would ye should understand,…

 Paul was concerned.  He had reason to be. He was in prison.  His execution was pending. There were people mocking what he had preached.  His circumstances were about as bad as it gets.

In these devotionals I have often mentioned the four things that weigh Christians down; circumstances,  people, things, and worry.  The book of Philippians addresses those in its four short chapters.  Today I want us to consider circumstances, with the other three following in the next three days. 

“But I would ye should understand,…” .  What did Paul want them to understand?  Was he writing to tell them how bad his circumstances were?  Did they know what it was like to be in a Roman prison, with ungodly guards, little hope of ever leaving, his execution pending, knowing his ministry was being mocked, having to sleep on a stone bench or the stone floor, miserable toilet facilities, and probably crummy food that the smelly guards may have messed with? NO!  Paul tells us what he wanted them to know in verse 12.

Php 1:12 ¶ But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

Paul was concerned that they were overly sad and discouraged that he was imprisoned. He tried to cheer them up by telling them that his circumstances have allowed the Gospel to be proclaimed.

Verse 13 tells us his imprisonment gave him access to people and places he could have never gotten to otherwise. Paul was a Roman citizen and Rome was a nation of laws. The people in Caesar’s court would have to deliberate his case and discuss his message.  There would have been some “water cooler” talk about Paul’s arrest and why he was arrested. 

Paul saw it as a positive. He had gotten the message inside the court system. People were talking about it. It was an encouragement to other Christians to speak up about their faith. Even those who mocked his ministry were promoting the idea of Christ.

Php 1:18 …whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, …

OK, let’s get real. How on earth could someone in Paul’s situation (circumstance) be all that happy.  Many of us would have been complaining that the toilet didn’t work and the food was disgusting, and demanding to know where our lawyer was.  Paul could have done that. No one would have blamed him. But Paul had made a choice.

“Two men looked out through the bars

One saw mud the other saw stars"

Paul was happy for a number of reasons.

1.    “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ”. From the first verse Paul identified himself as a servant.  A servant’s main concern is obedience, not results. The master is responsible for the results; the servant is responsible for obedience. Even in the Old Testament we find the phrase “Obedience is better than sacrifice”.  (1Sa 15:22)

2.    Php 1:3  “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,… Paul spent his time remembering the good things and thanking God for what He had done.  Paul did not drive himself into despair over all the things which could have, would have, should have been done.  He remembered past blessings and was thankful.

3.    Php 1:4” Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy.” Paul spent time in prayer.  Oh, we would prayed fervently!  “God get me out of here!”  But Paul prayed for other people and did it with joy.  

     Dear reader, are your circumstances preventing you from living a joyful Christian life? Or are your circumstances  an excuse for you to be depressed, angry, and less than what a joyful Christian should be?  Please do not be irritated with me, but if you believe your circumstances have robbed you of your joy, you have deceived yourself and chosen to be unhappy. 
       Suppose there was a magic wand that would make all your bad circumstances disappear and surround you with all you want to be happy, would you then be an obedient Christian, striving to please Christ and follow Biblical principles in all you do?  Please do not be angry at the messenger (me) I just deliver the questions.