Chains
I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Colossians 4:18
Remember my chains. Paul, formerly revered for his persecution of Christians is now in chains persecuted for his devotion to Christ. Ironic isn’t it? Take a look at your own life. What are your chains? Have you taken something on that used to seem like a burden because God asked you to do it? Or have you given something up that you were sure you couldn’t live without because God hated it? Those are your chains.
We are blessed to live in a country where we are allowed, at least for now, to openly profess our faith in Jesus Christ without fear of imprisonment or torture. That does not mean that the Christian walk is without peril. None of us lives exactly the same life we lived when God called us to walk with Him. A yes to that call brings change with it. We cannot choose Christ and continue to live the way of the world. It may be one big thing or a lot of little ones but change is imperative. Those changes remind us of our commitment as surely as Paul’s chains reminded him.
I believe that Paul admonished the Colossians to remember his chains to remind them that following Jesus can be, in fact usually is, a costly endeavor. Most of us have lost friends and some have lost family members due to our faith. Some have had to change hobbies and others I know have even changed jobs because of the far too worldly environment in which they found themselves.
Remember your chains and remember that whatever it cost you to follow Jesus will be returned to you a hundred fold. No man or woman can ever match let alone outdo God for generosity. The small sacrifices we make to serve are nothing compared to the sacrifice Jesus made to save.
Remember my chains. Paul, formerly revered for his persecution of Christians is now in chains persecuted for his devotion to Christ. Ironic isn’t it? Take a look at your own life. What are your chains? Have you taken something on that used to seem like a burden because God asked you to do it? Or have you given something up that you were sure you couldn’t live without because God hated it? Those are your chains.
We are blessed to live in a country where we are allowed, at least for now, to openly profess our faith in Jesus Christ without fear of imprisonment or torture. That does not mean that the Christian walk is without peril. None of us lives exactly the same life we lived when God called us to walk with Him. A yes to that call brings change with it. We cannot choose Christ and continue to live the way of the world. It may be one big thing or a lot of little ones but change is imperative. Those changes remind us of our commitment as surely as Paul’s chains reminded him.
I believe that Paul admonished the Colossians to remember his chains to remind them that following Jesus can be, in fact usually is, a costly endeavor. Most of us have lost friends and some have lost family members due to our faith. Some have had to change hobbies and others I know have even changed jobs because of the far too worldly environment in which they found themselves.
Remember your chains and remember that whatever it cost you to follow Jesus will be returned to you a hundred fold. No man or woman can ever match let alone outdo God for generosity. The small sacrifices we make to serve are nothing compared to the sacrifice Jesus made to save.
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