“Remember my chains…” -Paul

Is not every day, I read a book or letter and find myself moving towards change, but that is what I experience when I read Paul’s writings.  Today I was reading a letter he had written to the Colossians and got to chapter 4 where he starts with a short list of instructions for how Master’s should treat their servants and how these Colossians should devout themselves to prayer.

³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴

He asks that the Christians on the outside (those who are free) would pray that they (who are in chains) may be able to proclaim the message even while they are in prison.  Is no wonder those who came in contact with Paul were either moved to anger or to repentance.  The man had relentless passion for Christ.  He lived not for himself but so that the name of Jesus Christ be exalted and exposed to all.

“ ¹⁸ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

“Remember my chains…” those words kept coming back to me over an over again.  Paul had knowledge, he had wisdom, and a way with words unlike any other in his time.  It is no secret he had an amazing mind; he knew how to argue his message with those in positions of great power and authority, and he could be quite persuasive in his delivery.  When Paul spoke people listened and their lives where changed.  Why?

Besides the fact that he was chosen of God for such a time, I’d have to say, he was influential because his words had value.  Because what he required of others he was willing to go through himself.  It was because his faith was unshakable even when he was tortured, shipwrecked, starved, beaten, imprisoned, stoned, accused, ridiculed, rejected and left for dead.  Remember my chains meant a lot to the believers reading those words.  They understood exactly what Paul was saying; Jesus is enough and He alone be glorified.

I pray for a deeper passion and a strong conviction to the true gospel of the Jesus we proclaim.  That our hearts will turn to prayer and compassion for those who suffer and that in doing so, we too will become living testimonies of our glorious savior and the beauty of his sacrifice.