I had a huge reality check this morning as I read a
chapter of the book The Message of Philippians by J.A. Motyer. The apostle Paul was imprisoned when he wrote
the book of Philippians. He was
suffering unjustly and painfully, simply for believing in Jesus and proclaiming
the gospel. He had suffered so much over
the years in every area……physically, mentally, spiritually. So here Paul sat in prison and what does he
say?
“…so that it has become known throughout the whole
praetorian guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ; and
most of the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because of my
imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear.” (Philippians 1:13-14)
Motyer gave the visual then of Paul holding up his
chained wrist, but instead of pointing at his chafed wrist he makes us look at
what effect those chains are having in his own life and especially on the work
of Christ in others. The guards are
hearing the gospel…….others are hearing the gospel……..the brethren are gaining
confidence……….believers are becoming bold.
And I thought about myself, and the puny little
trials that I have gone through. What do
I often do when I hold my chained wrist up?
I know me, and I’ll tell you what I find it so easy to say and do. I point to my bleeding wrist and I talk about
my pain. I wonder about why this or that
happened, even when I know God is in charge.
I concentrate on the pain that my chains are inflicting on me. I focus on the injustice and the ones who are
responsible. In other words, I so often
do everything but what God wants me to do.
God wants me to look through the links of that chain
into His eyes, and to trust Him totally.
He wants me to see Him instead of the chain. And more importantly, He wants me to point
others to what I see as I look at Him. I
see His love and I trust His character, and He wants me to talk about that
instead of pointing to the chains.
It’s not about me, as much as I want it to be. It’s not about proclaiming my pain or the
wrongs I may have suffered or the hurt I am enduring. It’s so easy to do that, though…..to focus on
me and on the suffering. There is
actually a strange kind of comfort in that attitude, but it’s so wrong.
Speaking of Paul, Motyer said, “He did not see his
suffering as an act of divine forgetfulness (‘Why did God let this happen to
me?’), nor as a dismissal from service (‘I was looking forward to years of
usefulness, and look at me!’), nor as the work of Satan (‘I am afraid the devil
has had his way this time’), but as the place of duty, the setting for service,
the task appointed.”
Even when God directly answers prayer I sometimes
cringe, pull back in pain, and then act surprised by the route God has chosen
for me. Whatever the issue is in my
life, I need to realize that God wants to be honored in it……..not
questioned. It takes time and practice
and great trust to accomplish that attitude, which unfortunately sometimes
means more time in the trial. More time with
those chains around my wrist.
So I hold up my wrist to others, and what do they
see? They see what I focus on……what I
talk about……..what I point toward. Will
I be Paul and magnify Christ with my chains?
“How that word ‘now’ needs to eat its way into our
minds and hearts and wills! It is now
that we must show how great Christ is.
Never again will we have the chance to live for Him through this moment,
to please Him in this circumstance, to gladden Him by trusting in this ordeal.”
It’s not easy.
It takes resolve to change my focus.
Every single day, many times a day, I know I must refocus my eyes. My hurting wrist……the rusty chains…..the
ongoing pain. Whether it’s Aaron issues
or hurt from others or sadness from those I love who are suffering or worry
about our loved ones………it doesn’t matter.
God is there. He has a plan and a
purpose.
Now…today…this moment – holding up my hands to God
and not even noticing the chains. That’s
my desire.
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