Philippians 1:12-18a

STP Devotional for the Week of 10/6/25

This week we will discover why Paul was praying for growth in love and discernment.

Have you ever felt like things were out of control? We’ve got a few things going on while Paul is writing this letter. First, Paul was a traveling man. He was used to moving around and planting churches wherever he went. Now he’s stuck in prison, chained to a guard, no real end of his jail time in sight. Have you ever watched a video where someone or a pet was in trouble, and you just wanted to run and help them? That’s how Paul feels.

God knew this was going to happen. God had the plan for Paul just as He has your plan. Listen to the words Paul writes:

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. (Phil. 1:12-14)

Here Paul is, in his prison, chained to a guard, yet encouraging this young church that the gospel is being furthered while he remains! These guards wouldn’t have chosen to go listen to Jesus or Paul, but now they are a captive audience. We later see that Caesar’s household is converted. This never would have happened if Paul hadn’t been in prison in Rome. He was able to witness to people who were very high in command.

Second, the Philippians are worried about people preaching who didn’t have pure motives. Some were preaching out of envy – they were jealous of Paul’s popularity. Some were viewing preaching as a sort of competition – “Paul preached in all these places; I’m going to beat his record.” These people were seeking to afflict Paul, meaning they wanted to cause friction while he was imprisoned and could do nothing about it.

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter

do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former

proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my

imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is

proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. (Phil. 1:15-18a)

Again, Paul puts their minds at ease. Yes, there are some who are preaching with wrong motives, but there are those who are preaching with “good will.” The beauty of true motives is that the hearer sees and feels the love and compassion from the one preaching. False motives will allow the gospel to advance because God’s will is always accomplished, but the impact to the listeners will not be the same.

Whenever we think that things are going haywire, that our lives are spiraling out of control, or when we judge others for the way they deliver the gospel message, remember that God is always in control. He will always use any circumstance we’re in to further the good news of Jesus Christ crucified and risen to save us all.

AT HOME:

• Paul refused to dwell on the negative aspects of his situation. How do you think a person develops this habit?

• How does understanding God’s sovereignty help you view seemingly out-of-control situations in your life?