Maintaining a Gospel Perspective
“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.” Philippians 1:12-13
Years ago, a series of rejections left me feeling insecure and defeated. Initially, trying to understand it all, my mind jumped to potential cause and effect scenarios, and they all seemed to point to one conclusion. I was unwanted and therefore insufficient. But then one afternoon, God spoke to me clearly through Scripture and let me know that wasn’t the case. What I’d initially saw as rejections were actually redirections, and all for God’s glory.
Since then, I’m trying to view everything through a gospel-centered lens. When opportunities don’t come, I trust that God has something else planned. When someone treats me poorly, I choose to believe He wants to use that situation to show what grace-based love looks like. When darkness seems to swirl all around me, I pray that His light will shine through me and appear more brilliant than ever.
This was the mentality Paul, the author of today’s verse, had. He lived for Christ, empowered by Him, and trusting in Him. He knew God indeed would turn all things, even his being slandered, persecuted, and unjustly imprisoned, for the greatest good possible—the salvation of souls. This perspective allowed him to maintain peace and even joy while in very dark situations because he knew whom he belonged to and where, ultimately, he was headed.
God wants us to rest in that same assurance. Regardless of how others treat us or respond to our message, we belong to Him and He holds our eternity secure in His hands. Knowing this frees us to live one hundred percent for Him, with a gospel focus, when life is difficult and we feel surrounded by blessings.
Jennifer Slattery is a writer, editor, speaker, and the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries. She writes and podcasts for Crosswalk, is the author of Building a Family along with numerous other titles, and helped write Wholly Loved’s Bible study based on the life of Sarai (Gen. 12-23) titled Becoming His Princess, releasing in the spring/summer of 2019. When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall outings with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband. Visit her online at jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com.
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Originally published Monday, 24 February 2020.
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