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Becoming Bitter Or Better

Phi 1:12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.

Paul is writing this epistle from prison, in Rome, to encourage the Philippians who probably feared that his imprisonment would expose them to danger or hinder the spread of the Gospel. He removes this fear by showing them the big picture: Christ in us the hope of glory.

Paul declares that his imprisonment resulted not in hindering the Gospel but in the furtherance of the Gospel. He never condemns, gets angry, hates, shows bitterness or frustration with his accusers, or those who discredited his ministry. He also never jealousy tried to mock his ministry to hurt them more. He mentions some by name with the intention of leaving them in the hands of God.

Perfecting love opened his eyes to greater things, and he prayed that the Philippians would see what he was seeing and have joy and not sorrow. Paul resolved to make much of Christ where a number of us would be bitter. He thrived in adversities that advanced God’s kingdom. He decreased so that Christ may increase. We have a choice to be BITTER or BETTER in adversities.