In Philippians 1:12-14 we see that Paul is in jail for the cause of Christ. He says this, 12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (ESV)
The part that stood out to me was "..what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.."
It got me thinking, do I use the trials and tragedies in my life to advance the gospel, or do the trials and tragedies use me to hinder the good works the Lord is trying to do through me?
When trials come, you can either use it for His glory or use it for the enemy's purposes. Those are really the only two choices. Look at people's Facebook statuses as an example. It's either something positive or something negative. A complaint or a praise. Which one do you tend to do?
I have a friend who lost her baby boy last year. He was 4 months old and in the NICU for the entire span of his short life. They knew he had complications, they knew he might not make it, but they also knew what the purpose of his and their lives were: to give God glory no matter what. They named their son Triumph, because he was a miracle baby. And when he went to be with the Lord, their hearts were broken but their spirit was not because they knew that God had used his little life as a testament to God's grace and mercy. Everyone around them could see that something was different about these people, they had a hope like no other. The doctors, the nurses, the specialists, and the other parents in NICU could all see something…and little did they know it was the glory of the Lord.
Friends, can others around you see His glory when trials come? That is our whole purpose for being here. Maybe you have cancer, or maybe you lost your job. Maybe you have a sick child, or maybe you have faced rejection from someone who was supposed to love you. No matter what you have endured or are enduring now, God is allowing it to use you as a vessel of His glory because when you are weak, He is strong. And He shares that strength with you:
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor.12:9-11)
Do you see that? We are made strong through weakness because Christ's love shines through us. His power is made perfect in weakness. Just like the cross. The weakest moment Jesus could ever endure, yet the most powerful.
So this coming year, 2017, let's go into it ready to live out the glory of the Lord through whatever way He brings our way, good or bad. Let everything you say and do be for His glory and His kingdom. You can start with your next Facebook post. ;)
