“I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.” ~ Ephesians 6:20
Paul was still writing to the Ephesians while in chains. He didn’t grow quiet and discouraged, he fought on still preaching the good news of God because he knew what it was like to be without Jesus. He remembered the emptiness. The spiritual death. The separation. Paul remembered what it was like to be in sin away from God, but do we?
Often times we forget our time before God because we grew up in the Church and we take it for granted. So, when some discomfort comes, we shut up and shut down. We tend to not fight for God the way we should. When we’re told to be silent and put away our Bibles, we do. When we’re told to change our beliefs because they’re outdated, we do. When the world speaks, we listen and obey because we don’t want to offend the world.
Imagine that. Paul was in chains for preaching the Gospel so he continued preaching the Gospel because he knew the importance of it. He knew that the Word of God was and still is life. The world couldn’t turn Paul away or force him to change The Gospel, because Paul never forgot what it was like before Jesus. No matter what the world throws at us, are we prepared to stand up for our God and our faith? Jesus said don’t fear man because he can only kill the body, instead fear God who can destroy both body and soul in Hell. Man can never destroy your soul, so don’t destroy it for him. Don’t give into fear. Stand in faith that God will be there for you and uphold you in times of trouble and sorrow, never forgetting all that He has done for you. Don’t allow fear to have the last word.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Continue To Preach.
Amen!