Shackles

"Remember my chains," Colossians 4:18.

Interesting, isn't it? Remember my handcuffs. My shackles. These words come right after a list of all sorts of brothers and sisters who greet the Colossians: Hello, there! And, right after a list of brothers and sisters the Colossians should say, Hi!, to, too. It's easy to think of Jesus' kingdom as a theoretical thing, with idealized rules. Sort of like: Wouldn't it be great if everybody lived like that? (But since nobody does, we don't have to take it too seriously.) No. Not at all. The kingdom is real. Not of this world. But those who belong to it are real people who've committed their lives to Jesus' rule. And sometimes, they go to jail for it. And suffer for it. And even die for it.

When we meet up with a brother or sister today, we remind each other of the rule of Jesus. And, together, we give thanks to God for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.