Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, May 10, 2026
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: Paul let frightened Christians know that even in prison he was doing God’s work.
Christians were still being persecuted, even though one of their chief persecutors, Paul, was now proclaiming Christ. It was a scary time, and many were imprisoned simply for being believers.
At the time Paul wrote to the Philippians, he was in prison for preaching Christ. He wrote, thanking the community for supporting him in prayer even as he sat in prison. He also encouraged them by teaching that even though he was immobile, the Holy Spirit was not. God was working to convert non-believers through him, including many who were his captors. Through them the community of Christ continued to grow and gain strength.
At the same time, Paul was a firecracker. He didn’t like that there were others preaching Christ differently than he preached Christ—people who were still wandering free! I think it hurt his pride a little that his efforts were limited by his confinement. Even so, he managed to eke out a spot of praise for those who were still able to preach freely. “What does it matter?” At least someone was preaching Christ out there!
One of the beautiful things about Paul was that he was not soft or perfect. He was rough around the edges and it showed in his writing and actions. He was impatient and prideful, crass, and sometimes bitter. But he was one of God’s most valuable assets for the spreading of the gospel in early Christianity. It’s comforting to know that we need not be perfect (or our idea of what a “perfect” Christian must look like) to serve God. We can shine Christ through us when we are rough around the edges, impatient, prideful, and yes, even immobile. God can do the hard work. Sometimes we just need to show up.
