Day 17 - A Captive Audience

The Spirit helps us know what to say—and how to say it—when we are in perilous or uncertain situations. He helps us to bear witness during these times.

Read Philippians 1:12-30. Can you imagine writing such a bold witness in times of great stress? I am especially blown away by verses 20–21.

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!

Paul writes—in answer to what seems to be a question—about being a prisoner in chains. The Christians in Philippi are concerned as to how he is doing. In a very Paul-like way of answering, Paul first tells them how the church is doing, then how he himself is doing.

Picture this: you are the guard assigned to Paul’s house arrest, sometimes chained to him. How long do you think it will take before Paul starts telling you about his life and what a difference Jesus could make in your life? Not long. Not long at all to give his witness about how the Holy Spirit is helping him face every minute of every day.

When I taught school in California, there was a curriculum (sort of an interdisciplinary curriculum) called The Voyage of the Mimi. The Mimi was a sailing vessel that was a whale-watching expedition. Each season of the voyage represented a whale-watching season. Although the crew was the same each season, there were always interns working with them. Each time, the interns may have known a little about sailing in the beginning, but by the end of the season, there were practiced and worked smoothly with the crew. They were captive learners; they couldn’t be on board the vessel and not participate. And in that regular participation, they became sailors.

When Jesus calls disciples, it is His goal that we become like Him (Luke 6:40). This meant they would need to learn how to rely on the Holy Spirit as did Jesus. But this process would take time, openness, receptivity, and practice. You’re not born with a gene that automatically rejoices while you are chained to the walls of a prison cell! This willingness and ability to witness under any circumstance is an acquired spiritual quality that comes through our desire to live engaged with the Spirit.

Are you willing to witness how the Holy Spirit moved in your life? Are you willing to be a captive learner?