Prisoner

Prisoner

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Eph. 4:1-3.

Paul was faithful to this way, despite the cost. He was imprisoned and bound, but none of these trials could prevent him from walking worthy of the calling he had received. Acts 20:19,24. The only thing that mattered to him was to finish his race and the ministry he had received from Jesus Christ!

“When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” Eph. 4:8.

Through his faithfulness, Paul has become a gift to mankind and has left us an example to follow. His work and faithfulness, despite imprisonment and all his sufferings, demonstrate the possibilities open to those who walk in the same faith.

Circumstances are different now, but we too are pushed to our limits—to the point where we need the same faith that Paul had! In situations like these, we can feel like a prisoner! My “prison” could be, for example, poverty, illness, or difficult circumstances at home, in the church, at school, or at work.

Just think, to be able to heed the exhortation of a “prisoner of the Lord,” so that despite my “imprisonment” I can walk worthy of my calling, with all lowliness, gentleness, and the other virtues of Christ. When all demands on others are put on the cross and all thoughts of self-pity arising from my “prison” are put to death, the unity of the Spirit is preserved. Then I have come into the right relationship with our Master, who Himself walked this way all the way to the end! Only then can God show me the tasks He has given me to do. My joy, then, is in carrying out the “small” tasks that are right at my feet!

By taking things in the right way in my own “prison,” I come to see that my particular situation in life is a grace from the Lord—a gold mine. That is where I become reconciled with God—He is the loving Father who molds me through my circumstances. At first, they can feel like a “prison” to me, but these very things are hidden fountains of blessing! By finding contentment there, God molds me to be a gift to mankind!

“As they pass through the valley of tears, they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with blessings.” [Norw.] Ps. 84:6.

With the enlightened eyes of our hearts, can we see what a glorious gold mine we actually have right in our own circumstances? Then songs of praise rise up to God at midnight, just as they did from Paul and Silas in Acts 16:25—even from our “prisons”!

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Rom. 8:37.