As long as I’m alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I’d choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better. But most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it’s better for me to stick it out here. So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God continues. You can start looking forward to a great reunion when I come visit you again. We’ll be praising Christ, enjoying each other. (Philippians 1:22-26 MSG) If you are still breathing in and out on this planet earth, there is still so much for you to be doing for Christ. You can spread his Word. You could gather the children in the neighborhood and give them a safe place to play and learn. You might even find yourself taking an elderly friend to the grocer each week to get the necessities. Whatever way God chooses to use you - be us...
I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, found out that I’m in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they’ve learned all about him. Not only that, but most of the followers of Jesus here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah. (Philippians 1:12-14 MSG) Stop for a moment to consider what God can do through you when you remain faithful to him even in the face of untoward circumstances. Paul was imprisoned for preaching the gospel of Christ - yet his imprisonment didn't stop his ongoing work of spreading the gospel message. Not only did he continue his work of establishing the New Testament churches by writing and instructing via his writings, he was a positive witness of God's grace even while in a jai...