Chained

"I am an ambassador in chains," Ephesians 6:20.

The apostle Paul introduces himself like that. He serves as an ambassador announcing good news of the kingdom of Christ to the kingdoms of this world. (At any rate, that's what he says when he doesn't present himself as a slave.) Christ has appointed him as his representative. His envoy. His messenger. (And, that, by the way, is what an apostle is, somebody sent out as a personal messenger on behalf of someone else.) That is, a chained ambassador. Chained by what? Maybe by Christ. But, too, imprisoned by the world's kingdoms. So, this prisoner, chained by the world for Christ, asks the congregation to pray. To pray that he announce boldly the message Christ has given him.

And so as we meet with a brother or sister today, we pray for those in our town and around the world who proclaim the gospel message. We bind ourselves with them in praise that God's grace be heard and received to free enslaved peoples into eternity.