“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
–Ephesians 4:1 (NIV)
In OUR OPENING SCRIPTURE, Paul makes a radical statement when he says he is a prisoner of the Lord. He was a prisoner being held by Rome, all right, but this verse shows us that he didn’t see it that way.
Like paul, we all feel bound by something at one time or another, and when this happens, we often feel tossed back and forth by seemingly impersonal forces. Life becomes a game of random chance, and we aproach it as though we were playing the lottery.
Think with me for a moment about how impersonal society has become. Everything is automated now, and self-service has replaced customer service. Translation: 20 minutes on hold, and the customer is always wrong. Just reflect on these lyrics from the Bob Seger song, “Feel Like a Number”: “I feel like just another spoke in a great big wheel, like a tiny blade of grass in a great big field.”
But maybe it isn’t just feeling like a number. Maybe you’re sitting here, feeling like you are bound by the chains of guilt and circumstance. Maybe you’ve made all kinds of resolutions, or relied on sheer willpower, but nothing worked.
If that is the case, I suggest that we ask God to change our outlooks. We need to draw on His power for what I call a grace-look. Instead of being passively resigned to life, we need to let God renew our minds through the study of His Word. We also need to adopt a lifestyle of service, and become the hands and feet of Jesus on Earth.
The question is: Do you and I want to be prisoners of the one who wants to bind us, or do we–like Paul–want to be imprisoned by the only one who can truly set us free?
The Bible makes it clear that we are all in a war, and not just controlled by impersonal forces. It says that our opposing enemy is Satan, also known as the accuser of the brethren and the father of lies. He constantly plays on our feelings, and he is the very real enemy of our souls. Jesus said that Satan came to steal, kill, and destroy. It is Satan who wants you to feel like a number, or a prisoner of fate. Satan wants to steal your life out from under you, and keep you from being filled with God’s joy.
While I am not suggesting that we become obsessed with the devil’s wiles, we do need to develop a scriptural awareness of him by gaining a sense of dependence upon God’s Word. The Bible tells us about the great value God places upon us.
Jesus told us as His followers that every hair on our heads is numbered. When we view ourselves from God’s perspective, rather than seeing ourselves being controlled by impersonal forces, we can hold our heads up high, regardless of our status in life.
In other words, instead of self-esteem, we need to remind ourselves of the esteem Christ had for us when He died on the cross. Because of His amazing love, the good news is that none of us has to fight the enemy alone.
Jesus the King has overcome our rival, and all of us are called on to make a choice. By determining who we will listen to, we are either allowing ourselves to be bound by confusion and chaos, or to be set free by the prince of peace.
While life is not easy, Jesus wants to become our closest friend, offering strength and hope in His Word. Instead of viewing our relationship with Him as a duty, we need to make our walk a lifestyle, as well as a delight.
Let us rejoice that we have the privilege of obeying the one who gave His life for us! Instead of being bound by fear and gloom, why not become a prisoner of true freedom? In other words, live large, because God is in charge!
Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.hcmachaplains.org and click on the Donate Now link. You can also send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 101 S Kraemer BLVD, Suite 123A, Placentia, CA 92870.
Finally, you’re always welcome to join our Tuesday night Bible study. These studies are conducted by conference call, and they take place at 6:30 PM Arizona time. Our conference number is 313-209-8800. Our PIN is 8699032. We hope to talk with you soon!
If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call 507-369-6861.
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