Scripture Reference: Colossians 4:18 – Philippians 1:13 – Hebrews 13:3
“This situation by my own hand – Paul: Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen“ Colossians 4:18
"So that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ.” Philippians 1:13
“Remember the prisoners, as if chained to them.” Hebrews 13:3
Paul had a great love for the saints in Colossae, and he had some powerful words as he brought his epistle to a close. Paul knew the pressures they faced, the fear of rejection they felt, together with the appeal of riches and personal comfort that assaulted them on a daily basis. But they must resist the temptation to think that imprisonment for Christ's sake is a disgrace. “Remember my chains! Rejoice in them!
While finishing a slow read of the book of Colossians, my eyes lingered on Paul’s last verse of chapter four, which states, “I, Paul, write this greeting with my hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.” Why does Paul tell people to remember his chains?
I can picture Paul dragging his shackled hand across the parchment and scribbling his name at the end of the letter. Signing the document reminded him of the personal sacrifice he endured to preach the gospel to them. To Paul, the chains were an act of love. They were proof of the struggle he endured to further the gospel of Christ and help believers grow in sanctification.
We see this in Philippians 1:7 when he says, “It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with 2 me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.”
Paul’s words immediately reminded me of the writer to the Hebrews who said in chapter 13 v3, “Remember the prisoners, as if chained to them.” As we come to the end of this book, what are we to make of Paul’s last words? Paul has never closed a letter like this; just three words, and as we will see, so full of meaning.There is no begging for rescue or deliverance here. Because (as he said earlier) he had learned to be content in “whatsoever state” God chose for him. What a glorious truth and principle for all of us to apply to our lives.
There is no bemoaning his chains, no whining or complaining. Only “remember”…be mindful of them, and why he was wearing them (which includes the realization that persecution could also come to his readers). One of the most amazing statements in Scripture is when Paul said,“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation“ (Philippians 4:12). Whether he was blessed in abundance, or whether he suffered need, Paul went on to say, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength“ (Philippians 4:13).
Why is it dear friends that contentment is this life is one of the greatest hindrances to many of God’s people. I believe that when we take our eyes off of our Savior and look to the world and all of its offerings, it becomes just that much easier for us to get tripped up in running our great race of faith. When we take out eyes off of the prize, - we forget that we are to run our race with distinction, pressing on toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus. When we do this, it becomes that much easier to remain in a state of godly contentment. For many years I’ve said that two of the hardest things in the lives of Christians is to be content in every circumstance we find ourselves in, and to learn to wait on the Lord.
Paul was right when he told us to imitate him. He showed the believers of this young Church so many times how to “endure hardness as a “good soldier of Jesus Christ.” He even sang in his chains! Remember Acts 16, in prison with Silas.
I wonder. When your rope breaks and hardness comes your way, how will you respond to adversity greater than anything you could have ever imagined? How will you “endure”? There isn’t a day that goes by in my ministry with prisoners where in person or by letter I don’t hear of some awful, sorrowful event. If you are a part of a church of any size, – adversity will be no stranger. In just the past two years, our church lost a precious elder to Covid; several other members endured the loss of loved ones. A few weeks back, one of my friends lost their new born daughter, shortly after birth. We must never expect trials and tribulations to go away; They are simply a part of life in a sin-stained world.
Since I know that God is always purposeful, He never makes mistakes, and He never wastes time, then I can be assured (no doubts, no questions at all) that whatever is happening right now is something He is fully aware of, and He is not hindered by any of it. “There hath not failed one word of all his good promise.”
His purposes cannot be thwarted– except by our own stubborn will.
So what is the most important thing for you and me to be doing every day? What is the thing our children (and whoever else might be looking on) needs to see? What does God wish to see? “Not my will, but thine be done.” These are our Savior’s words. They are not mere resignation. This is not saying, “I’ve done everything else I know to do, so there you have it.” There is no shrugging of the shoulders, or rolling of the eyes, or an “oh well” attitude. This is determination. This is submission with an eye toward the future and what “good” God will bring out of whatever is going on.
So, as we reflect on today’s passage...
Remembering Paul’s chains helps us see the ways and love of God. God is powerful and purposeful. He gets glory and shows his love even in the imprisonment of his people. Throughout the Bible, in the lives of people like Joseph, Daniel, and the prophets and apostles, we see how God uses the hardship of imprisonment to build character and open up doors for his word. Throughout history we see the same thing.
He has never forsaken one of his faithful followers who suffered for his sake. He has loved them to the end. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t thank the Lord for so many of my dear friends, who despite being incarcerated, live the most amazing lives of faith; men and women who are living their lives behind bars with an ever inspiring hope and purpose.
Remembering Paul’s chains helps us see the power of the gospel. When Paul and the other apostles were thrown in jail, even the jailers heard the gospel. It seems the more Christ’s followers were imprisoned, the more the gospel spread. The same is true today. As Paul said to Timothy, “the word of God is not bound.” It is a joy almost beyond belief to see the gospel go forth in countless prisons all over this country. It has been my experience to make the statement that I see more pure evangelism in our prisons that I do in many of our churches today.
They recognize that although they may figurably be in chains, God has them right where they are for a purpose. They are Christ’s Ambassadors in chains, and many see each day as a new opportunity to bring the good news of the gospel to anyone they find who is willing to listen. Sadly, we live in a day and age where we are always having to challenge the church to remember the mandate that Christ left us prior to His ascension. Do you have a passion for the lost? Do you go about every day, asking the Lord to use you as a witness, with a testimony ready to share? Do you remember the last person you witnessed to?
Remembering Paul’s chains helps us see the nature of the church. Jesus said he will build his church. Throwing Christians in prison will not stop what Jesus 5 intends to do. Whether it was the first century church in the Roman Empire, or the church today in North Korea, it will grow because this is the will of Christ. The body of Christ has been given a proclamation to bring the Gospel to every tribe, kindred and tongue throughout the world, – and then the end will come.
Personally I believe that has not happened yet, and why it is my belief that we still have work to do before our Savior returns. What if every child of God were taught from the earliest of age their responsibility as a member of the body of Christ to be a faithful witness for Christ and always be looking for opportunities to share their faith with another person. The world would be a different place and perhaps our Savior’s return would be more imminent.
Remembering Paul’s chains helps us see our Christian calling. The early apostles rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer for Jesus’ name (Acts 5:41). The early church was told to expect a level of suffering as followers of Christ. Suffering is a calling. We should embrace it rather than running from it.
Remembering Paul’s chains helps us pray for our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ. The church is a body with each member suffering and rejoicing with the others. When any member of our Christian family suffers we should take up their cause in prayer, service, and advocacy, as best we can. Let us broaden our vision beyond ourselves and see the suffering of others.
We must never stray far from Paul’s admonition to “do good to all people, especially those of the household of faith.” Just like in prisons, people all over are hurting everywhere, and it is the responsibility of the body of Christ to look for any and every opportunity where we can step in and show a little encouragement and comfort to someone in distress.
Remembering Paul’s chains helps us deal with our own hardships. Are you experiencing a breach in family relationships because you have become a follower of Jesus? Has faithfulness to Christ cost you something, or someone? Are you doing without in order to give to others? You are not alone. The multitude of saints who have gone before you and experienced these hardships are happy and blessed today.
Remembering Paul’s chains helps us look to the One who was bound, crucified, and raised for our salvation. Christ’s sufferings for us were of a different kind than ours for him. We suffer as those who have received mercy, whose sins are 6 forgiven, and who will inherit eternal life by the merits of Christ. Christ suffered in the place of sinners as an act of mercy, to forgive sins, and to secure eternal life for us. Grateful as we are for the way Christians have suffered for the sake of the gospel, it is in Christ’s suffering that we trust. It is to Christ that we look for the strength to suffer with him.
Thank you for taking a few minutes to read this. This weekend, I encourage you to take what will only be a few minutes and read the entire letter of Colossians, and pray for your worship and gathering this coming Lord’s Day.
Final thought
Paul’s powerful postscript, “Remember my chains” (Colossians 4:18), is an appeal that could be made by persecuted Christians around the world today. Some are actually in prison, like so many of my friends. Others have the scars of their cross-bearing upon them. Others are in prison of another kind, where walls of intimidation, discrimination, and violent threats surround their families, churches, and livelihoods. Each would say to the brothers and sisters of their forever family, “Remember my chains.” But they would also remind us to look beyond the pain and chains and prison wall of fear to see unsurpassed joy and unending life.
This truth is beautifully summarized by a few lines from a song I heard of years ago that I found in one of my prayer journals. The lines drawn from Philippians 3 still thrills me and drives me to add my voice to this great cloud of witnesses worldwide:
"I want to know Christ and the power of his rising, Share in his sacrifice, conform to his death. As I pour out my life to be filled with his Spirit, Joy follows suffering, and life follows death." Philippians 3:
From: fight the good fight of faith & life journal: By Gregg Harris
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