A Prisoner of Jesus Christ

Ephesians 3:1  (NRSV)
3 This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

When you think of someone being a prisoner the first thing that comes to mind is what did they do wrong? You think they are being punished for their crime and locked up where they pay for the wrong they have done. This is the understanding of what prison is today in our modern day world. Being a prisoner was different for the Apostle Paul though. Yes, Paul was imprisoned for his faith and was persecuted for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but Paul did not say in this verse I am a prisoner of Rome. Paul said I am a prisoner of Christ.

I love this image Paul is giving us of his relationship he has with the Lord. Paul became so consumed with Christ that he was completely captivated by the Lord. This captivity was not a cold cell with bologna sandwiches to eat but it was a relationship that had brought Paul's mind, body, and soul into a bondage with the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh how I yearn in my spirit to be captured by the Lord in such a way. To experience Him so intimately that I too would say that I am a prisoner of Christ. I encourage us all to strive on our spiritual journey to experience that deep of a relationship with the Lord. A relationship that finds us being willing prisoners not religious participants. A relationship that compels us to be working prisoners where it is our joy to serve God by serving others. A relationship that makes us wealthy prisoners not of money per say but of those things profited from the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, & temperance). These are the dividends that have a much greater affect on us than just money and possessions.

Heavenly Father, I pray for myself and everyone who reads this blog. I pray that you will capture our hearts in such a way and allow us to experience you so intimately that we too will say we are prisoners of Christ. In Jesus name, Amen!
Pastor Tommy