Who Holds the Key?

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

Ephesians 3:1

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

Ephesians 4:1

 

As Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians he was a prisoner in Rome.

At least, that’s what Rome thought!

But Paul did not identify himself as a prisoner of Rome.

He was first and foremost a prisoner of and for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rome may have had the man but the Lord had his heart.

Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles.

It was his calling; perhaps you could even say – his “sentence”.

But it was a sentence he served with gladness and without any regrets.

 Many, many people today are walking around “free” but they are truly locked up because they have not known the freedom that only Christ can bring.

Paul was a prisoner of the Lord.

He knew who had called him and the purpose of that call. 

But Paul was also a prisoner for the Lord.

He served, with joy, the One who had called him.

Do you know who has called you?

Do you know His purpose in calling you?

Are you serving him with joy?

Rome didn’t hold Paul’s heart.

His affections were set on things beyond a prison cell. 

They were set on things above.

Who holds your heart?

Whose ‘prisoner’ are you?