18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Colossians 4:18
I think when we read many of Paul’s letters, we forget that he was literally in prison when he was writing. He was a captive of the Roman government. Paul spent years in captivity. However, he did not waste his time. He kept in constant contact with the churches which he or other members of the sect had begun.
Can you imagine being in prison and getting some of the reports that Paul evidently received about the behavior of the people in the new churches? It must have been dismaying to him. But he continued to try to teach proper Christian behavior…to remind the people that Jesus Christ was their model to follow. And Jesus Christ was their Lord and Master. In the letters, Paul reminds people again and again.
Paul had literal chains. Some of us may have literal chains. But almost all of us have figurative chains which keep us from being the people that Christ wants us to be. Our chains can also be called sins. They keep us bound up. Unless we admit to having them, the chains will not be loosened.
However, when we can come to the point of saying, “God, take my sins away,” we will begin to grow as the Beloved Children of God. We will grow in grace, mercy, and if we listen, we just may be able to hear God’s voice. But as long as we are making a lot of ruckus in our lives, we will not hear God.
Our chains are of our own making. God, help us loosen them.
Carol
