WEDNESDAY January 3, 2024

Prisoner of Christ

Paul was in God’s perfect will. The Lord would use him greatly, even though he would often be imprisoned during different times in the final years of life. Paul knew in his heart that he was not really a prisoner of Rome. He was a prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ. Read Paul’s words in some of his prison epistles to capture his thoughts:

Ephesian 3:1: For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles...

Ephesian 4:1: I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called....

Philemon, verse 9: ...yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ...

Paul considered the title of being a prisoner of the Lord an honor. It testified of his commitment to Christ. He was surrendered to God’s will, knowing He would use it for His glory. He wrote to Timothy, a young pastor, who needed encouragement in counting the cost in the ministry:

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God... (2 Timothy 1:8).

Sadly, the church in Jerusalem forgot about Paul. Many believers never came to see Him. It must have been so hard, as he must have felt deserted. Yet in prison, he continued his ministry and wrote to the Ephesians, the Philippians, the Colossians, and a letter to Philemon.

Paul was a perfect example to follow in the cost of discipleship, as his commitment to Christ would eventually cost him his life. That is what the Christian life and the Cross is all about. It is not a life of ease––it can be rough. It is a life of sacrifice and surrender to God’s will. Christians, those of you who are suffering for your faith in Christ, let me say this to you: “God will be with you as you remain faithful in following Him, no matter the cost. He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes ... and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent.
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!