Devotional Thoughts: Making lemonaid out of lemons

Rembrandt
"St. Paul in Prison"
1627

Image source: http://www.rembrandtpainting.net/complete_catalogue/storia_b/paul_prison.htm

Am looking at Philippians 1:12-18 this morning.

St. Paul was in prison when he wrote the letter to the church of Philippi.

But despite this he was able to see the bright side!

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Paul, the captive, had a captive audience in the form of the palace guards!

He also noticed that other people became more bold to speak about Jesus.

Unfortunately, some of the attitudes of the others who were speaking for Jesus was not ideal. Despite this, Paul wasn't going to lose his joy in the life of faith.

Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

What eventually happened to Paul?

This web page indicates he was executed after around AD 62. Excerpt:

After being held prisoner for two years and after hearings before the council of priests, before the Roman procurator Felix and his successor Festus, before Herod Agrippa II, and again before Festus, he appealed to Rome on his citizen's right. So he was sent to Rome under guard. (Acts 21.27–28.31.) On the way they were shipwrecked on Malta but finally landed at Puteoli (Puzzuoli). Paul was imprisoned (A.D. 60) in Rome but was allowed to conduct his ministry among the Roman Christians and Jews who visited him. Of his final fate tradition says that he was beheaded south of the city, near the Ostian Way, probably during the persecution of Nero. A lesser tradition claims that Paul was released after his first imprisonment and that he went East again, and perhaps also to Spain, before his martyrdom. Some scholars believe that Paul was executed after his initial imprisonment, probably A.D. 62. St. Paul's tomb and shrine are at the Roman basilica of St. Paul's Without the Walls.

Another web page I found discusses briefly that Paul may have been released such that Paul traveled to modern day Spain and Great Britain. In the Wikipedia article, the author places Paul's death at AD 64 or 67. Excerpt:

We are forced to turn to tradition for the details of Paul's final years. One tradition holds (attested as early as in 1 Clement 5:7, and in the Muratorian fragment) that Paul visited Spain and Great Britain. While this was his intention (Rom 15:22–7), the evidence is inconclusive. Another tradition places his death in Rome. Eusebius of Caesarea states that Paul was beheaded in the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero. This event has been dated either to the year 64, when Rome was devastated by a fire, or a few years later, to 67. One Gaius, who wrote during the time of Pope Zephyrinus, mentions Paul's tomb as standing on the Via Ostensis. While there is little evidence to support any of these traditions, there is no evidence contradicting them, and no alternative traditions of Paul's eventual fate. It is commonly accepted that Paul died as a martyr in Rome. According to Bede in Ecclesiastical History from Vatican library sources, his mortal remains were given to Oswy, King of Great Britain, by Pope Vitalian in 665.

Lord, I pray for those who are Christians in countries where it is dangerous to be a Christians. Give them strength to persevere. Give them joy in knowing you are with them. Help them share the love of Jesus with those around them. Help us here in the USA to be bold for you. Amen.