Php 1:12-13, 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.
Paul is writing this epistle from prison in Rome to encourage the Philippians who probably feared that his imprisonment would expose them to danger or hinder the spread of the Gospel. He removes this fear by showing them the big picture. His imprisonment he says resulted not in hindering but in the furtherance of the gospel. You don’t hear him condemn, get angry, hate, be bitter or frustrated with his accusers, or those who discredited his ministry by jealousy or tried to mock his ministry to hurt him more. Perfecting love opened his eyes to greater things and prayed that the Philippians would see and have joy and not sorrow.
Paul resolved to make much of Christ where a number of us would be bitter. He thrived in adversities. He always saw the big picture and trusted God to carry him through. We too have a choice to be BITTER or BETTER in adversities. May God show us and strengthen us to be better.
One reply on “Becoming Bitter Or Better”
Amen! Find ways to praise Him for there is always something!