While in my Chains

Scripture:

Philemon 10 "I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains"

Observation:

Philemon's slave had run away and Paul, who knew Philemon, ends up leading the slave to Christ. In this story of Paul sending Onesimus back home and asking Philemon to receive him with love and grace there is a line that talks about Paul. He says, "whom I have begotten while in my chains". These words jumped off the page at me this morning. Paul was leading people to Christ while in his own personal chains. While in prison, he was preaching Christ effectively.

Application:

Today, we associate being in the will of God with having no problems. If we have any problems, we think we are out of the will of God. Paul had problems, big problems, yet in the problems, he was leading people to Christ. Most of us would say, "When I get out of this situation I'm going to share my faith". Paul said that in the midst of the problem, God is with me and I will lead people to Christ. Many times when bad things happen or when things are not going well in our lives, we feel we can't share Christ with others. Nothing is farther from the truth. In the midst of life's problems, we should be sharing the love of Christ with all around us.

Prayer:

Lord, I have not been to prison for my faith. I have not been persecuted strongly for my faith. Help me to lead people to Christ in every situation of life and not to allow my personal situations to stop me from demonstrating the love of God. While in my chains, I want to see You working in people's lives. You are the best!

Jeff