PHILIPPIANS 1:12

“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,”

Today is April Fool’s Day, a day when people try to pull pranks on others. Sometimes they are funny. Other times – not so much. I have been the perpetrator of pranks and the victim too. Being a jokester myself, I kind of like this day. If you pull a prank today, make sure it is harmless and demeaning. Just saying!

Paul was NOT pulling a prank when he wrote this verse to Philippians. He wrote this epistle from prison, so how could his “circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel”? That just doesn’t make sense to me. But Paul knew something about his circumstances. God would use them to spread the message of Jesus far and wide. He was sure of that.

APPLICATION

Today we have a very interesting word that is used by Paul. We translate it “progress.” You have to see what HELPS Word Studies says about this word. “Prokopḗ (from pró, ‘in front of’ and kóptō, ‘cut, chop down’) – properly, advance (progress) – literally, ‘advancement by chopping down whatever impedes progress’; furtherance. For the believer, this means going forward in sanctification, cutting through obstacles by the Lord’s power. [This root (prokop-) is also used in antiquity of pioneers and armies – clearing away (chopping down) forests in order to reach their destination.]”

Prokopḗ is only used two other times in the New Testament. Later in Philippians 1:25 we read, ”Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,” And in 1 Timothy 4:15, Paul tells Timothy, “Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.”

To borrow the definition we saw in HELPS, are you chopping and clearing a path with the Gospel? We have been given the Sword of the Spirit, God’s Holy Word, to do just that. Memorize, meditate and apply His Word today in all your interactions with others. Look for ways to say as Paul did that you see a greater progress of the Gospel.

Father God, use me today to be Your instrument to share Your Word with others.