“This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.” ~ Colossians 4:18
REFERENCE:
Paul, in chains, concluded his letter to the Colossians with greetings from some of his co-laborers. He also recognized and greeted some saints in the church, charging young Archippus to pay attention to his ministry and to ensure that he executed it well. However, Paul found it necessary to end the letter with a charge to these believers: “REMEMBER MY CHAINS.”
Paul must have felt the sting of being forgotten by friends and loved ones when going through tough times. The Colossians likely began to think less about Paul; they stopped sending support or making inquiries about him. Hence, he reminded them of his chains. He would want them to remember how he handled his chains, made them count for God, preached the gospel, and encouraged others to preach. But more importantly, he wanted them to remember him with empathy, to remember to pray for him, visit him, and send support to him.
Humans are naturally selfish; we are absorbed by our needs and desires, forgetting to reach out to friends, church members, or loved ones who are in chains. Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them – those mistreated – since you yourselves are in the body also.” The writer calls us to remember those around us who are ‘in chains’ and do all within our power to be empathetic. Think of those going through a rough patch in life as prisoners locked up in jail like Paul; they would appreciate a visit or a helping hand, be glad to know we are praying for them and be excited to receive a letter from a loved one. We saw yesterday that Paul was endeared to Onesimus because he ministered to him in his chains.
I am sure you know someone around you who is now ‘bound in chains.’ They have hit a rough patch, and things have been tough for them for a while. Put yourself in their shoes and ask how you will want to be treated. It will be great to remember them today. Send a text message of encouragement to them, make a prayer voice note and send it to them, you can stop by their office or home with a meal or a snack, and you can send a little sum of money to them. All you are saying to them is, “I have you in mind; I empathize with your situation; I am praying for you, and I believe God will soon free you from your chains.”
There are people in your network that God has somehow made you aware of their chains; the cry of their hearts at all times to you and me is, “REMEMBER MY CHAINS.” Let’s answer them.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Hebrews 10:34, II Timothy 1:15-18, and Matthew 25:34-40
PRAYERS:
+ Lord, give me the grace to always remember those in my network going through a tough time. Help me to be a blessing to them; a glass of cold water in a desert land.
+ Lead me to someone I can extend Your love and kindness to today.
+ I pray for those in chains right now that you will visit them, break their bonds, and set them free, in Jesus’ name.
This scripture captures what this devotional says to me – the attitude of Onesiphorus:
II Timothy 1:16-18
“The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; 17 but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. 18 The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.”
Lord, make me a Onesiphorus. May I zealously seek those who need refreshing and offer it to them, that they may know Your love through me.