I read some old notes I had written on Paul being abandoned and yet The Lord stood with him, “so that through me” he might proclaim to his captors the Gospel. God uses our circumstances and even the evil of others to give us an audience with them that they might hear of Him, the Gospel of liberation. Paul was forsaken but the LORD stood with him. Paul was wronged but he extended love in the form of forgiveness. Paul was suffering and yet God strengthened him to share with his captors who were the true spiritual prisoners.
- Thank God, for those He brought into your life, when you were lost, antagonistic, “So That…” you might hear the Gospel and step from darkness to light.
- Thank God, that you have the power to pray that others be forgiven when you are abandoned.
- Thank God in your circumstances ,though painful at times, you do not stand Alone. THE LORD STANDS with you and purposely so, to comfort you and STRENGTHENING you in the midst of enemies to the Gospel, for God says we are “enemies,” outside of His Son.-{Rom 5:10}. The LORD stands, strengthens you so with Paul you can have confidence, courage and clarity of purpose, “SO THAT THROUGH ME…” Others might hear the Gospel.
Your circumstances are an opportunity for An Audience with someone.“At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, SO THAT through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; “– (2 Tim 4:16-17).
THANK GOD, He sent His Son for you.
THANK GOD He sent someone to tell you of His Son.
THINK BACK TO WHOM and How, as stimulus to thanksgiving.
THANK GOD He opened your heart to receive the Word.
THANK GOD He is choosing you to do likewise.
THINK…THANK… TRUST HIM…TELL OF HIM. He is with you, He is strengthening you. You have been entrusted with the most important message ever! It is of eternal value and consequences.
See your circumstances and the people in them as opportunities!
God gave Paul an Audience With his enemies, “So that through me …”.
God loved the captors. The cross testified and His strengthening Paul with the message showed them so. If they did not recognize it then, they do now!