I pray that you’ve had a good week during the time we’ve been away for a family reunion. I’m glad to be back with you in sharing insights from God’s Word.
There are five letters that explain how the Apostle Paul could shift from dragging Christians around in chains over to being chained himself because of Christian faith.
The letters are J-E-S-U-S.
This transition was profound.
And no doubt very painful occasionally in a physical sense.
But the spiritual and emotional comfort of those chains far outweighed the physical pain.
For Paul knew that his chains served as a powerful testimony as to the powerful bond he had with his Savior.
In Acts 9, the Bible says that a pre-converted Paul (known then as Saul) saw his mission as to destroy Christianity and that’s why he arrested Christians and dragged them to Jerusalem in chains.
Yet, in six of his New Testament books, Paul writes of how his being chained due to faith was actually serving to promote the very Gospel that he once hated so intensely.
You can read at this link an excerpt of Paul’s thoughts about his chains.
The same J-E-S-U-S that profoundly changed Paul’s direction in life and in eternity wants to see you grow toward the same measure of faith.
He wants you and me to turn the world’s controlling attacks against us into powerful tools of ministry.
When others criticize our faith, let’s shine our Christlike patience and enduring love more brightly.
When others seek to lure us with temptations that will leave us chained with guilt, let’s make sure that they see that we’re already chained to Christ and that we’re not looking for a new slavemaster.
Listen, J-E-S-U-S changes everything for the person who wants a new direction in life and in eternity.
Let’s make sure we’re wearing the right set of chains.
The ones we choose to put on with joy.
As always, I love you
Martin
