Remember

Wake Up Call

At the very end of the book to the Colossians Paul says to the church there: “Remember my imprisonment.” (Colossians 4:18) Why does he say that? Is it a bid for sympathy? Does he want them to send him some help? Why is he putting the spotlight on himself?

No, I think instead that Paul is issuing his readers a challenge. He wants prayer. Earlier in this same chapter he admonishes them to pray “at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word…for which I have also been imprisoned.” (Colossians 4:3) So every time they remember that Paul is in prison it will remind them to pray.

Pray for what? Paul does not ask them to pray for his release. (That certainly shows the difference between Paul and me!) No, he only wants to further the gospel regardless of his personal condition, chained or free.

That is the second reason to remember his imprisonment. It reminds the Colossians to count the cost of being a disciple of Christ. You might end up in prison. These words can remind us of that as well. You may not be in prison for the cause of Christ but things could change. Thousands are enduring persecution all over the world every day. More is ahead.

Are you ready? If you were thrown in prison for being a Christian would your focus be on spreading the gospel? As you meditate on the words REMEMBER MY IMPRISONMENT it would be a good idea to decide.

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