Week 6, Day 2
Today’s Reading: Romans 1-2
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
The book of Acts ends without us being able to hear the whole story. We never find, from the inspired account, what happens to the apostle Paul. This is perhaps another one of those “Paul Harvey” moments, where we wish we had the rest of the story. However, we can be assured that God has provided for us all that we need. He showed us much of the work that Paul did through his travels, and through his imprisonments.
We can be fairly confident that Paul was not executed on this stop in Rome. For example, the letter to the Philippians was written during this two year stay in Rome. Paul told the Philippians that he would be coming to see them again, which implies that he had full expectation of being released from his confinement, and would be able to go and visit with them again. Historically, we learn that Paul served 2 stints in prison in Rome. The first time, he was released, most likely after having his court date before Caesar. The second time, he was put to death because of his teachings as a Christian.
Though Luke’s account concludes before the life of Paul was completed, Luke does leave us with some valuable information about what Paul was doing. He stayed for two full years in Rome, held at house arrest. During that period of time, he was not bemoaning his situation, nor was he complaining about how bad things had gotten for him. He didn’t think of himself as being useless to the kingdom now that he was arrested. Instead, he spent the time “preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.” Paul used the opportunities that he was given, so that the gospel might be preached and souls might be saved! Consider what he wrote to the Philippian brethren, while in this circumstance in Rome:
But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
–Philippians 1:12-18
Paul was, it seems, the eternal optimist. How many of us would consider our circumstances to be ideal for teaching the lost if we were cast into prison? How many of us would even think about sharing the gospel with the guard if we were in such a situation? Or with the prisoner in the next cell? Paul used whatever circumstances he was in to spread the gospel message. It was all about looking for those open opportunities. When they were presented to him, he stepped up and took advantage of them. How often do we do that? May we open our eyes, and see the opportunities that are presented to us daily!
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