May the Gospel Go Forth!
May the Gospel Go Forth!
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I [Paul] thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now... 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” (Phil. 1:1–6; 12–13).
This was Paul’s first letter from prison to the church at Philippi, and his friends there were anxious to hear how Paul was doing. Now, the apostle could have started off his letter, “I’m glad you’re praying because I need it. The prison guards are mean, my chains are chafing, the grub is lousy, the nights are freezing, my bed is hard, I can’t sleep, and the other inmates are bullies. This place is horrible!” That’s how some—perhaps, many—people might have responded. But not Paul. He was not about to drag the Philippians down with a long list of complaints. Rather, he strove to encourage the church with his prayers and to assure them the gospel was going forth.
Yes, disability is terribly difficult and chronic pain can eat away at your peace of mind. But think of Paul in his hardships. In good times and bad, Paul was most concerned about the going forth of the gospel. Paul writes in Acts 20:24, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” What an example!
Like a black, velvety cloth set against diamonds, your disability provides a remarkable backdrop that magnifies patience, perseverance, endurance, and an uncomplaining spirit. These Christlike qualities that God longs to cultivate in your life are amplified against your obvious hardships. Your chronic condition is, no doubt, obvious to others—but what God wants to make obvious to others is your perseverance and lack of complaint. That can speak volumes to onlookers who are skeptical or cynical about God. They will look at you and think, How great her God must be to inspire such loyalty. Maybe her God really is worth investigating!