This past weekend, my nieces and I introduced my mom to the old movie Pollyanna. No matter how many times I see it, I cry at the end as the town comes together and Aunt Polly is changed through the testimony of a young girl and her tragedy. My mom and I cried together.

In a similar way, there is a passage that challenges me and excites me every single time. Note: This is a preview of our upcoming study. I simply couldn’t wait to post this as my heart was stirred.

Paul is in prison as he writes the book of Philippians. Is he bemoaning his location and discomfort? Nope. Is it where he wants to be? Nope. But… listen to what he says in Philippians 1:12-18:

“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;
¹³ So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
¹⁴ And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
¹⁶ The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
¹⁷ But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
¹⁸ What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”

Paul is rejoicing. Why? He is in prison.

Because through his imprisonment, the gospel is going to places that it couldn’t go otherwise, even up to the palace itself and every other place. Other Christians are seeing his testimony and gaining boldness to speak Jesus to others without fear.

Yet, Paul goes on to say that while some are preaching the gospel in love, others are preaching it insincerely working to cause problems and add more burden to Paul’s incarceration. How does Paul respond?

Oh well.

Either way, Christ is being preached. I do and will rejoice.

So, Paul’s perspective is amazing. God is using Paul’s imprisonment to show Jesus to people who would otherwise never hear. People working against Paul are still preaching the gospel to others and Jesus’ love is being made known. Rejoice.

Just as I cry each time that I watch Pollyanna, my heart is stirred each time I read this passage. Will I take Paul’s perspective and attitude by God’s grace? Will I see the discomfort and pain of living with chronic illness and all that goes with it as a way to spread Jesus’ love? Will I trust God to use it even when I can’t understand and people turn against me?

I look forward to studying Philippians together in the near future. We will be loosely following the study book Joy in the Midst, by Carrie Gaul, as we walk through the book of Philippians. I have gone through this book previously and learned much. It is anticipated to be back in stock on October 6.