The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 1:12-18, “Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,
13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else,
14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will;
16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;
17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice.”

Have you ever known people who experienced turmoil and devastation in their lives, but simply refused to allow the clouds of darkness to defeat them? I remember a lady in a church I once pastored, who lived with constant pain. Yet, every time I visited her home, she pointed to an encouraging, biblically-based book she was reading, and spoke of how the LORD was using it to encourage her life.

The Apostle Paul was like that. His letter to the Philippians was written against the background of extreme difficulty; yet it has been well designated as “an epistle of joy.” Paul was looking beyond his circumstances and rejoicing because of the “progress of the Gospel.” Some who had been timid about speaking up for Christ were becoming bolder in sharing Him with others. That encouraged Paul! He went so far as to say that even those who were preaching Christ “from envy and strife,” gave him encouragement. How could that be? He knew that the Gospel carried its own power –power that released those who heard and believed it from their sin, even if the preacher himself possessed selfish motives.

Some of us are not there yet. A singer is singing off-key! Ouch! A well-intentioned preacher is misinterpreting a key passage of Scripture. Our heart and ears cringe because things are not as they ought to be. We need to take another look at Paul’s joy. That singer loves Jesus! That pastor hungers to see the advancement of the LORD’s work! Yes, they missed some things; but the Gospel is being proclaimed! Jesus is being exalted!

I knew a German couple in Australia. He had been in Hitler’s army. A woman came to his house with the Gospel and shared it with difficulty because she stuttered. Al was patient and ultimately he and his wife, Heidi, came to faith in Christ under that dear woman’s stuttered sharing. The Gospel of Jesus Christ soars above the imperfections of those of us who share it. Focus on the Gospel. Share it as best as you know how! The Gospel alone is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” (Rom. 1:16).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom