Remember My Chains

Colossians 4:18- "I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you."

      Hey :) This week has been crazy, to say the least. God continues to strengthen my patience daily, which is so necessary because of school starting. I read this verse a couple of days after I wrote my last blog, and I took this week to think about it and it's significance. It jumped out at me right when I read it.
      The entire book of Colossians is a letter from Paul to Christians in the small city of Colossae. Most of the letter consists of him telling them how to strengthen their faith, and to continue to thank God for everything. To us, that may sound insignificant. We already know the importance of thanking God, but here's the twist, Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison for sharing Christ. Even while he was chained, he was praising God, and teaching others to do the same. Paul used his life, even in jail, to give complete glory to Jesus, and not only did multitudes get saved back then, but his testimony still speaks to millions today through the new testament. 
      When I first read this verse, I looked at earlier verses to hear more about Paul's imprisonment. Come to find out, he mentioned being in prison maybe once or twice. The rest of the letter is ALL about how amazing our God is. That is such a witness to me because compared to how big Jesus is, prison was so insignificant to him. No matter what hardship you are facing, compared to HIs love for you, it's nothing. Knowing that someone can face chains, yet still live free because of Jesus shows us that through keeping our eyes on Christ, we can get through any and every trial set before us. 
      Another point I made from this was found in verses 2:6-7, which say, "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, WALK in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, ABOUNDING in thanksgiving." Paul is chained in a cell, yet he was still WALKING in Christ. Not only was he walking, he was ABOUNDING. The dictionary definition of abounding is "plentiful", or you have a lot. Paul had nothing, yet he was overflowing with thanks and love for Christ. 
      Paul signed off by saying, "Remember my chains". Why? He wanted people to see that even though he is chained, the power of Jesus cannot be contained and His love will continue to be spread throughout the nations. "Remember my chains". No physical torment can separate you from Jesus, no enemy, or army, or prison. "Remember my chains". Know that people you know are chained and stuck in their tribulations without Christ, but He can still reach them. "Remember my chains". We are never so lost that God can't find us. "Remember my chains".
​      Without Christ, we are held captive, but Jesus came to set the captives free.
In Him, we are free. 

-Sophia Light