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Showing posts with the label Christian surrender

Voluntary Imprisonment: Why Paul Chose to Be a Prisoner of the Lord

  Voluntary Imprisonment: Choosing to Be a Prisoner of the Lord (Ephesians 4:1)  "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beg you to walk worthy of the vocation by which you are called."   Ephesians 4:1 (KSB)    In Ephesians 4:1, the Apostle Paul makes a striking statement: "I AM the prisoner of the Lord." It’s a bold way to describe oneself, especially when our usual conversations about God focus on liberty and freedom. We often celebrate verses like, "You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" and "Whoever the Son sets free is free indeed." Yet here, Paul embraces the language of bondage not as something forced upon him, but as something he has chosen.    In biblical times, if someone could not pay a debt, they could voluntarily become an indentured servant. Some, once their debt was repaid, loved their master so much they chose to remain as “love slaves” willingly bound in service. Paul’s declaration reflects that sa...