Message Of Character

Let us muse on Philippians 1:30 today as Paul uses his prison as a pulpit. In this text I find a message of character. In verse 30a I see testing of those who saw it. Paul uses the little phrase “saw in me”, to tell us that God often shuts us up that others may see our response. What did the jailer see in Paul when they sung in their prison. What did Lydia see in him, when he spoke a word and  her heart was opened. The word conflict means the agony of running a race. Be careful how you run your race folks are watching you run. In verse 30b I see the testing of those who now hear it. Paul speaks of what they now hear to be in me. Paul said they heard it, saw it and now they are telling it to others. It is something to go into that room where cancer has struck and they have turned into a palace of praise. It is something to go in that funeral room and it is a palace of praise. It is something go in that nursing home and the room is a palace of praise. You can rest assured you will tell it.  I am reminded of the story years ago of the lady in the poor house. During the visit of her pastor she gave him the words to a song she had written. The chorus said “I sing because I am happy, I sing because I am free, for His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me”. You reckon he ever told that story?