As I’ve been reading through Philippians I came to one simple and obvious conclusion this week – Christians are Christ-centered. That seems so basic, but it’s so important to understand. We’re not Christians because we say we’re Christians or because we prayed a certain prayer. We’re Christians because we’ve been changed by God. We give evidence that we’re Christians because our lives are centered on Christ. Consider one of the evidences of a Christ-centered life.

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (Philippians 1:12-14 ESV)

Christians will realize that any situation can advance the gospel.

I can imagine that if Paul had been able to map out his own life he would not have chosen prison. Surely there were better and more effective ways to spread the gospel. He could have offered Mediterranean cruises where he would have had a captive audience while they were aboard ship, or he could have offered tours of the Holy Land, where people could walked where Jesus walked. However, because he understood he was a servant of Jesus, and Jesus gave him the duty of advancing the gospel, he was fine with his situation.

We realize that people have all sorts of problems and unwanted situations. Things we would not have chosen if it were up to us. Things we want to be over. Things we pray individually and together to end. However, when our lives are centered on Christ, we begin to realize every situation can be used to advance the gospel. Therefore, there is joy to be found in every situation – even in the midst of the deepest, darkest pain. How is that possible? If nothing else, we show God to be so satisfying and glorious in the middle of problems that people have to wonder what’s different about us.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not talking about a happy-go-lucky approach to life. I’m talking about being able to say, “Yes, I’m hurting. I don’t like what I’m going through. I want things to change. BUT Jesus has called me to advance His good news, and I know He will eventually make everything right. So I will trust Him and live for Him no matter what happens.”

Paul understood that his imprisonment advanced the gospel. It was known to the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that he was in prison for Christ. AND most, not all, but most of the believers became much more bold to speak the word without fear.

We realize that any situation can advance the gospel.