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REJOICE, FOR CHRIST IS PREACHED!
THURSDAY, APRIL 13
Philippians 1:12-18

Ephesians 6:18-20

 

“…Christ is preached;

and I therein do rejoice…”

 

REJOICE, FOR CHRIST IS PREACHED!
 
One of the results of Paul’s imprisonment was that many people were now more confident to preach the Gospel. Perhaps in hearing of Paul being imprisoned for the cause of Christ, they were spurred on in their own efforts, realising that it was not too much to be arrested, or even to be killed for Christ. They saw past their own fears and worries and were courageously willing to hazard their lives for Jesus. They continued Paul’s work of evangelism, now emboldened to speak the word without fear. Paul’s testimony therefore not only encouraged those outside the church, but those within as well.
 
Sadly, there were others who took advantage of his imprisonment as an opportunity to get at him or get ahead of him. The tragic thing was that these enemies were found inside the church. These were pastors and preachers who were not preaching out of love for God, but out of envy and strife. Perhaps they were jealous of the success and popularity of Paul and were now using his current state as a means to hurt him and add affliction to his bonds, or perhaps to “steal his sheep.” Paul knew this, but he was not complaining; he was able to see the good that came out of it.
 
Despite all that was happening, Paul was able to say that he did rejoice, yea, and would continue to rejoice. To him, what was most important was that Christ’s name was preached. As long as that happened, he was content. It did not matter that he was in prison, or that his name and reputation were being maligned. Christ was preached, and he rejoiced.
 
Of course, this did not mean that he condoned the actions of those who were preaching Christ out of contention. In fact, by writing about them, he was actually rebuking them for their actions. Paul’s point was that as long as the true Gospel was being preached, even if it was motivated by a malicious intent against him, he did not take offence, but could instead rejoice. This is the heart of one who lives for the furtherance of the Gospel. Is that what we care about as well?
 
THOUGHT: Have I ever shared the Gospel for the wrong reasons?

PRAYER: May I learn to rejoice because Christ is preached!

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