Good morning sign posts to God

Philippians 1:12-14 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

Do our lives point people towards God and the gospel of Jesus Christ? It’s a good question to ask. It is one thing to be a godly example to our close Christian friends who love us but what message is received from those who are our enemies?

In Paul’s situation, the whole palace guard knew Paul was in chains because of his spiritual convictions. When you take verses 12 and 13 together in context, Paul’s response must have been honouring even to those who were persecuting him. We know this because it clearly states ‘what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel’. In another passage we find Paul & Silas in prison singing praises to God and we read Paul’s response to the guard was with honour. The result of this painful situation in life was salvation to the guard and his whole family. What is this? Again it is the advancement of the gospel.

I wonder if Paul was able to treat the cruel palace guards who inflicted much physical pain on him with respect because he did not view them as enemies but as people who needed to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. I wonder if this was Paul’s main concern, even over his comfort and his rights as a person.

What is our primary view of those who make our life difficult? Do we see them as the enemy or do we see them as precious people to God who need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, and need to see the reality of it in the way we treat them?