“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me
has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout
the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for
Christ. And most of the brothers, having
become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak
the word without fear.” Philippians 1:12-14
Have you ever heard the term “paradox?” A paradox is, according to one definition is a
statement, proposition, or situation that seems to be absurd or contradictory,
but in fact is or may be true. Whether
you’re familiar with the term “paradox” or not, you are witness to them all of
the time. Have you ever ordered jumbo
shrimp on the menu? Jumbo means big;
shrimp means little—totally opposite adjectives, yet combined, they form a
delicious food. What about the phrases
“the beginning of the end,” “bittersweet,” and “deep down you’re really a
shallow person?” These examples
represent things that are direct contradictions, and yet somehow they aptly
describe the situation.
I opened the bible this morning and I came across a paradox
that I’d never noticed before. It is in
the opening chapter of Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi. In verse 14 Paul states that most of the
brothers, “having become confident in
the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear”. If you didn’t see the painfully obvious
paradox, please re-read it until you do.
I’m in no hurry; I’ll wait. Got
it yet? Good! Notice the words in italics. Paul is telling the Church that the brothers
there with him in Rome are becoming more confident because of Paul’s
imprisonment and, consequently, are becoming much more bold to speak the Word
without fear. That’s not usually how it
goes, right?
Usually, imprisonments are how authorities squash rebellions
and uprisings. I think anyone who has
been halfway paying attention to the news this past year has seen what happens
when the police fail to arrest rioters.
The rebellions get out of hand and the whole city winds up in complete chaos. Conversely, when police take charge and
arrest the instigators of public demonstrations-gone-awry, the rebellion
usually fizzles shortly thereafter. I’m
sure that is what the Pharisees and Roman authorities were thinking when they
put Paul imprison. But, once again,
Jesus proves to be the exception and not the rule.
Paul’s imprisonment, and a large dose of the Holy Spirit,
only added fuel to the Christians’ fire.
What was meant to be a suppressor became a combustor! The Christ-haters wanted to snuff out the
flame of Jesus, but instead they only poured gas on it!! Be encouraged my friends! Remember what Joseph said: “As for you, you
meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many
people should be kept alive, as they are today.” God is in control and He will accomplish His
will. And He is no stranger to the
paradox. In fact, if you look at the
entire story of the gospel, it’s nothing but a paradox. A sinless savior died so that sinful man
could live forever! Praise be to God the
Father! Hallelujah!!
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