Aug 5th Devotion

The Best Laid Plans – David Jeremiah
 
The things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. Philippians 1:12
 
Near the end of his third missionary tour, the apostle Paul stayed with his friend, Gaius, while he wrote the book of Romans. He told the Christians in Rome he was planning to visit them on his next trip. He intended to travel to Jerusalem, then to launch his fourth tour to Rome and on to Spain. He described his plans in depth in Romans 15.

Nothing went as Paul planned. He was arrested in Jerusalem, spent two years imprisoned in Caesarea, transported by a ship that sunk in the Mediterranean, and washed ashore in Crete, where he was bitten by a viper. When he finally arrived in Rome, he was in chains and facing another two years of incarceration.

Yet he wrote to the Philippians, telling them God had used it all for the furtherance of the Gospel. He had evangelized Romans soldiers everywhere he went, and the story of his troubles had emboldened Christians everywhere to witness with more courage.

We can rest assured God turns our problems into tools for ministry. Are you facing a difficult situation right now? Try praying this: Lord, turn my trial into a testimony!

We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. Chuck Swindoll