When I was reading Ephesians tonight chapter 4:1a, Paul refers to himself as "the prisoner". It caught my attention since the word, in a worldly context sounds negative. I dread to think of my relationship with God as "prisoner-jailer". However when we look deeper at the whole passage, Paul's prisoner attitude is that of a "lover".
Example when we are in love we make some deliberate commitments such as I will not look at another woman or man or talk to anyone like I talk to my beloved and sometimes we make promises with our eyes that we will make a choice to be faithful to our partner. We "imprison" our thoughts and emotions towards pleasing our loved one ... can be wife or husband as well :-)
When we make that effort to please our partner we feel a certain satisfaction and joy. When someone commits to loving you forever there is a certain warmth that overcomes us. In many poems we read the lover is captivated by one look, captivated by her hair or the way she walks etc. This is exactly Paul's condition. He is captivated by the love of Jesus. And now he is announcing it that he is captivated (imprisoned by choice) and so now "I belong to the Lord".
Paul made that same decision consciously and depended on Jesus 110% for everything. From the least to the most! He set himself aside. Paul not only has the sense of belonging with God, he is very comfortable and confident about surrendering himself to God. Paul is absolutely delighted to submit to His Lord and he means it when he comes in the presence of God, humbles himself and says, "at your service Jesus my Lord". Paul and all of us are free from the slavery of sin but now what do we do with this freedom. Paul decided that he will enjoy freedom thoroughly by serving the one who has offered it to him.
Now one-sided love is not love at all. Paul's commitment is a result of Jesus loving him to death. 1 John 4:10 clearly states that God loved us first and Paul is only responding to God's love.
Example when we are in love we make some deliberate commitments such as I will not look at another woman or man or talk to anyone like I talk to my beloved and sometimes we make promises with our eyes that we will make a choice to be faithful to our partner. We "imprison" our thoughts and emotions towards pleasing our loved one ... can be wife or husband as well :-)
When we make that effort to please our partner we feel a certain satisfaction and joy. When someone commits to loving you forever there is a certain warmth that overcomes us. In many poems we read the lover is captivated by one look, captivated by her hair or the way she walks etc. This is exactly Paul's condition. He is captivated by the love of Jesus. And now he is announcing it that he is captivated (imprisoned by choice) and so now "I belong to the Lord".
Paul made that same decision consciously and depended on Jesus 110% for everything. From the least to the most! He set himself aside. Paul not only has the sense of belonging with God, he is very comfortable and confident about surrendering himself to God. Paul is absolutely delighted to submit to His Lord and he means it when he comes in the presence of God, humbles himself and says, "at your service Jesus my Lord". Paul and all of us are free from the slavery of sin but now what do we do with this freedom. Paul decided that he will enjoy freedom thoroughly by serving the one who has offered it to him.
Now one-sided love is not love at all. Paul's commitment is a result of Jesus loving him to death. 1 John 4:10 clearly states that God loved us first and Paul is only responding to God's love.
1 John 4:8 This prisoner of God has no fear of what the 'jailer' might do. He knows that the one to whom he has surrendered to loves him deeply, cares for him and will never hurt him. I am immensely challenged by Paul's example to have the same confidence and trust in Jesus. And obviously trust is developed over a period when we spend quality time with someone. Paul developed it by knowing God intimately.
Jesus also made big claims as a 'prisoner' of the love He has for you and me. Some of His claims are:
- Hebrews 13:5 I will never leave you nor forsake you
- Matthew 21:22 Ask and it shall be given you
- John 14:13 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do
- John 10:11 Iam the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep
- Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you
and many more. Some are really big claims, I am not sure if my daddy will be happy about me making promises about giving away our family heritage or property. And there are many more claims that Jesus made and kept.
The point is that Paul understood Jesus' heart. He realized that Jesus was a man of His word and his lover was stronger than anything in the world. He had absolute confidence and so he literally threw himself at Jesus' disposal saying, "here I am Lord, I am your prisoner, I belong to you, you are the love of my life...do what you want to me, I am completely yours."
I close with these thoughts:
- Has the love of God captivated our heart?
- Are we ready for the 'big claim' that Jesus here Iam, at your service my master, let me serve you, let not mine but your will be done!
- Jesus, literally loved us to death yet how do we love him?
1 comment:
amazinG!
even I thought the prisoner/ jailer relationship is kinda odd and not something I would like..but your description makes perfect sense to me :D
thanks for sharing leena baji.
You’re such a source of Blessing.
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