Would You Choose Chains?
I remember hearing a sermon on the story presented in Acts 25-28 that changed my life during a pivotal time. Since then, the passage and the essence of it stuck with me. I’m glad it did, too, because it is an incredibly powerful and timely reminder these days.
From the moment of conversion, Paul lived a transformed life. As with any of us, there was a sanctification process, but as far as the Scriptures indicate, Paul was on fire for Christ instantly. And there his journey from persecutor to one of the greatest evangelists the world will ever know began. He spent years rebuking, challenging and encouraging churches and believers. Towards the end of Acts we find him imprisoned. Here’s what’s happening -
In Acts 21, Paul is arrested and dragged out of the temple for preaching the Gospel
He remains in custody, and seizes every opportunity to share his testimony with those he stands before; he never demands justice, just explains what God has done in his life
In Acts 23, God says to him, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must also in Rome.”
From Acts 23 to Acts 25, Paul is kept in custody for over two years, being tossed around to answer to several in power at the time like Felix and Festus
Festus basically found no fault in him and was ready to let him off, certainly from death, but Paul insisted on standing before Caesar, which would leave him in chains as a prisoner in the meantime
Paul gets sent to Agrippa in Acts 25, where Festus explains to Agrippa that he could find no fault; Paul shares his story again as Agrippa requested, and he was greatly moved by it
When it was all said and done, Paul was on his way to Rome with some liberties, but as a prisoner
The journey was not easy, and included shipwrecking on Malta, but Paul did make it to Rome
We could hash out the details of this for hours, but that is the bullet point summary of the culmination of Acts regarding Paul. Why am I sharing this?
Well, among many other things, I find it convicting and profound that at one point Paul was set up for freedom and yet chose chains. He had done enough to feel ok with walking away free now, right? I mean he was arrested for preaching the Gospel. He was Christ-like in how he handled that as far as we can tell in the Scriptures. He shared his story of transformation through Christ every chance he got through the process of prosecution. He should be able to walk in freedom now feeling like he did right by God in it all, shouldn’t he? Or maybe that’s just how I would feel.
But something important happened in Acts 23. God told him to take the Gospel to Rome.
All of a sudden this was bigger than it may have seemed in the beginning. This was about more than Jerusalem, where Paul had been spending his time lately. This was bigger than Felix, Festus and local government. This was about more than Paul and his freedom. From God’s perspective, this was about Paul taking the Gospel as far and wide as he could.
And, well, you know Paul. He wasn’t going to stop until he got to Rome. Just look at 2 Timothy 2:8-10… he knew God’s Word wasn’t bound by his chains.
I don’t want to pretend there isn’t something specific on my mind as I write this, but I also don’t want this devotional to become an opinion piece. With that said, I feel led to share why this has been on my mind -
It seems to me the church has lost sight of the bigger picture lately. The church has been more concerned with our “right,” and what is ultimately a preference and privilege, to meet in person the way we’re accustomed to than we are with being the church and taking the Gospel as far and wide as we can. As unfavorable as these circumstances are right now, because of the church’s temporary transition to online services and the “dispatch” of us as believers, the Gospel has gone further (and faster) during these times than probably ever before. The church has gotten so caught up in the fight for the freedom to meet in a building that we’re missing it.
You know what the church is made up of? You and I. Individual people leading our own individual lives, within our own circles of influence. We are the church. Are we contributing to this as individuals? Are we busy sharing the Gospel - sharing hope to a world that is endlessly searching for it - or are we too busy demanding our “rights?”
What if this is bigger than our freedom from God’s perspective? What if it’s not about our freedom at all, but about taking the Gospel as far as we can so more people experience eternal freedom through Christ?
Again, I’m not trying to make this devotional an opinion piece. I just don’t want us to lose the incredibly relevant reminder Paul’s life and journey is to us during these days we’re living in.
If we’re not careful, we’re going to wake up one day and realize we squandered what may be one of our greatest opportunities to show the world who Jesus is during a time they were most open to hear it.
Paul chose chains for the sake of furthering the Gospel. Are we willing to do the same?
~ Alyssa