Quarantine Epistles 14

Pastor Chris’ Corona Quarantine Epistles to the Flock of AIC Ngong Road, in Dispersion and Isolation. 14th. Edition.

Dear Elect of God,

Today marks the final day of my COVID-19 quarantine ordeal. It proves, among other things, that two people can be locked up in fairly confined spaces and not kill each other – just kidding! This would also conclude the life of the epistles, but I have a mind to continue, seeing as people have found them profitable. Yesterday we saw in Philippians 1:9-11 that the focus of Paul’s prayer for the Christians is their spiritual growth.

Today, we begin a new section, dealing with Paul’s perspective of his imprisonment. He kicks the section off positively in verses 12&13. In verse 12, he says that everything that has happened to him has only served to advance the preaching of the gospel. Think about it, Paul had wanted to go to Rome. He wrote about his desire in the book of Romans. But had he just traveled to Rome on his own, his ministry might have been limited to the contacts and space, that believers there could provide. Paul ended up in Rome but as a prisoner. He had a guard posted 24/7.

These guards were rotated regularly, with a 24 hour period having no less than 4 different guards. Considering that a night had 4 “watches”, if each watch had a different guard, then a day could have anywhere between 6 and 8 guards. Imagine Paul with a guard who cannot go anywhere for at least 3 hours. The poor soldier had better yield his life to Christ, or he has not heard the last from Paul.

This is significant because soldiers traveled a lot. They were the mail service, imperial heralds, and VIP escorts. And just as all roads led to Rome, they also led out of Rome, to the extremities of the empire. Paul would have had the opportunity to disciple soldiers, who would be deployed all across the empire, taking the gospel with them.

 In verse 13 he states that everyone around the palace, meaning soldiers, servants, and hang-about, all got it clear that Paul was in prison for Christ. Was it just a lament to people, “I’m suffering for Jesus?” Most likely not. Rather, everyone who encountered Paul heard about Jesus. God puts us in situations for his glory and for the advancement of the gospel. What we must do is exploit the situation to the maximum. I’m trying to do that with these epistles, among other things. What are you doing?

Your loving Pastor Chris.