February 11 - God’s Bigger Picture

“I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News” (Philippians 1:12, NLT).

WOW, what a statement!! When I read this my mind did an automatic reverse over the past years, and all the events of my life – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Can I say in all honesty that no matter what, I have 'helped to spread the Good News?' Have I always looked at problems, difficulties, and disappointments from God's viewpoint? Or, have I allowed myself to become discouraged, frustrated, and unhappy? Did I spend those years working out plans for my future?

As we inevitably discover, God has a plan for all our lives – as the apostle Paul found out on the road to Damascus. After meeting Christ on that road he had only one dream....to preach the Gospel in Rome. At the time, Rome was regarded as the centre of the universe, the most important city in the world.

But God had other ideas – other plans for Paul. Instead of sending Paul to Rome to preach crusades, God made him a royal prisoner of Caesar, who was at that time Nero. Nero was a real piece of work - as wicked and bad as anyone could get.

Royal prisoners were treated somewhat differently to the Joe Blogs of the day. Paul was chained to a royal guard 24 hours a day for two years, and the guard was changed every four hours. Over two years in prison, he witnessed to 4,380 guards. Who’s the real prisoner here? Who had the captive audience? What an opporunity, God's plan all along, and Paul grasped it with both hands.

Two incredible results came from this: First - within two years, some of Nero’s own family become believers because of Paul’s witness in the royal court in Rome (Philippians 4).

Secondly, Paul was used to being constantly on the move, from town to town, but in prison, he was shackled and forced to be still. Yes, his body was confined, but his mind had wings and, as a result, wrote most of the New Testament.

I wonder, which had a bigger impact: his preaching in the Colosseum or the books he wrote, such as Romans, First and Second Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians? These seven books have revealed Jesus to millions of people over the years?

Paul knew that God had a bigger plan, and he was happy to follow wherever God led him.

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” - Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)

Any time we have a problem that’s getting us down, we need to do what Paul did — learn to see it from God’s perspective. Ask, “What is God doing here? What’s the bigger picture? What’s the bigger perspective?” Then, like Paul, we’ll face the problem and way ahead, in faith and trust. That, no matter what happens to us here, we have helped to spread the Good News.

(Acknowledgements Rick Warren)

“Wherever You Lead” - with Scott Allan Matthews, is today's music. Click on the picture to listen.