Prisoner of Jesus
READ IT ALOUD: Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ (Philemon 1, 9).
PONDER IT PRAYERFULLY: This is a strange introduction and one that can easily be taken for granted. Paul always introduced himself as either a servant or an apostle. Sometimes he used both terms. But here he is, calling himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
It’s tough to be a prisoner FOR Jesus Christ. Paul would know; his letter suggests he wrote it while in prison. Many people pray that if a gun were held to their heads and they were told to deny the Lord or face imprisonment, they would refuse to deny Him and instead suffer great loss, even loss of life.
How much more precious it is to be a prisoner OF Jesus Christ. Whether we walk around smiling or have tears of sadness on our faces, everyone is a prisoner of some sort. There are three enemies; the world, the flesh and the devil, that can imprison a person. Some people walk around smiling, but within, they are in jail – the kind of jail that makes them want to be prettier than their friends, date a better-looking man, make more money – this kind of jail keeps people constantly fighting to outdo others while slowly perishing within (Proverbs 14:12).
And then there is the kind of imprisonment that sets you completely free. It’s this kind of prison that Paul lived in. He walked in the vocation wherein he was called and refused to go back to the ways of the world. Many people probably thought his life was miserable because he didn’t do or say certain things, but in reality he was freer than anyone could imagine.
BE A DOER (JAMES 1:22): Being a prisoner for Christ is not as important as being His prisoner. Many people who say “Lord, Lord” and walk around putting on airs, performing miracles, spending years on the mission field or in jail or both, and doing other great deeds will not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:22). Many whose lives seem to be easy or even pointless will be among the generals that lay crowns at Jesus’ feet on that day. Where do you stand? Who are you on the outside? Is everything going wonderfully, or does it seem like everything is going wrong? More importantly, who are you on the inside? This far outweighs your external circumstances. Whose prison do you belong to, Christ’s, or the enemy’s?
HIDE IT IN YOUR HEART (PSALM 119:11): I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called (Ephesians 4:1).
PRAY IT PERSONALLY: Lord Jesus, we are no successes until we become Your prisoners. Let me be Your prisoner – let me be truly free in You, and let me walk worthy of the vocation wherewith I am called, in Your own dear Name. Amen.
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