Caesar’s Household
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many souls the bonds that held them in the slavery of sin. Nor was this
all. He declared: “Many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident
by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”
Philippians 1:14
.
Paul’s patience and cheerfulness during his long and unjust impris-
onment, his courage and faith, were a continual sermon. His spirit, so
unlike the spirit of the world, bore witness that a power higher than
that of earth was abiding with him. And by his example, Christians
were impelled to greater energy as advocates of the cause from the
public labors of which Paul had been withdrawn. In these ways were
the apostle’s bonds influential, so that when his power and usefulness
seemed cut off, and to all appearance he could do the least, then it was
that he gathered sheaves for Christ in fields from which he seemed
wholly excluded.
Before the close of that two years’ imprisonment, Paul was able
to say, “My bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all
other places,” and among those who sent greetings to the Philippians
he mentions chiefly them “that are of Caesar’s household.”
Verse 13
;
4:22
.
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Patience as well as courage has its victories. By meekness under
trial, no less than by boldness in enterprise, souls may be won to
Christ. The Christian who manifests patience and cheerfulness under
bereavement and suffering, who meets even death itself with the peace
and calmness of an unwavering faith, may accomplish for the gospel
more than he could have effected by a long life of faithful labor. Often
when the servant of God is withdrawn from active duty, the mysterious
providence which our shortsighted vision would lament is designed by
God to accomplish a work that otherwise would never have been done.
Let not the follower of Christ think, when he is no longer able
to labor openly and actively for God and His truth, that he has no
service to render, no reward to secure. Christ’s true witnesses are
never laid aside. In health and sickness, in life and death, God uses
them still. When through Satan’s malice the servants of Christ have
been persecuted, their active labors hindered, when they have been
cast into prison, or dragged to the scaffold or to the stake, it was that
truth might gain a greater triumph. As these faithful ones sealed their
testimony with their blood, souls hitherto in doubt and uncertainty
were convinced of the faith of Christ and took their stand courageously