A prisoner, saying those words causes us to automatically think of those who have committed crimes that warrant incarceration. We may think of being trapped in a situation that we can’t seem to get out of, or one where we have voluntarily submitted ourselves and given up our desires for the betterment of someone else.
In Ephesians 4:1, Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus from a prison in Rome. He calls himself a “prisoner of the Lord.” This is the second time he has referred to himself this way in Ephesians. In 3:1 he referred to himself this way also. He was not ashamed to be put in prison for his faith. He gladly would become a martyr if it meant the gospel would go forth. Paul called himself a prisoner, not only because he was being held in bonds, but because he voluntarily submitted to the authority of Jesus. He was a slave, a bondservant, a “doulas” for the Lord Jesus Christ. This Greek word doulos, refers to one who has a master, with no rights of their own. They are not free in any area of life but are totally submitted to the Master. This was Paul’s desire. This word is also used of the Messiah in Isaiah 42:1 “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.” Paul assumed no authority of his own but yielded himself to be controlled by God.
Ephesians 4:1 “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called”
Romans 1:1 “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.”
He sends them an earnest request. The word “beseech” means to beg or plead with them, not for his freedom, but for something more important. He wants more than anything for the gospel to continue to go forth. He wants them to “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” In other words, be a model Christian. Don’t live a sloppy Christian life. You are a child of the King, act like it! You have been bought with the price of Jesus’ blood. Live as a grateful follower. Your title “Christian” means little Christ, so emulate Him to the best of your ability, relying on the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you. Being a Christian is to be lived out as a daily lifestyle. We are not to act and speak one way at work and another way at church. We are to learn what God expects from us through His word, through the preaching of His word, and through intense study. Saying you are a Christian, yet continuing to hang on to old habits weakens the gospel influence and cheapens your gospel testimony. Hell will be full of those who thought they were a Christian, because of the way another so-called Christian lived. They said a prayer and went to church, yet there was no real difference inside them. Those who have not lived as a Christlike example will give an account when they stand before God for those they have led astray because of inconsistent or selfish living.
If you are a Christian, you cannot live contrary to the word and have peace in your soul. Unless you have seared your conscience as Paul talks about in I Timothy 4:2 “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” If you have gotten to the point, you can have pet sins and it does not bother you, or you are constantly defending your actions, even if it is only in your mind, you are on dangerous grounds. We are to live holy lives because God demands it.
In I Peter 1:13-16, we are to “gird up” our minds, to be sober or serious about the grace that has been extended to us. We are to act as obedient children not patterning our lives after those of the world. We are to be different from the way we were before when we were ignorant of the lifestyle that God demands of His people. God is holy, and we are to be holy in all our conduct. This includes your Monday through Friday activities as well as your Sunday morning. Our love for Christ and His holiness governs everything about His children. Our manner of speaking, places we go, things we watch, what we listen to, how we dress, and who we hang out with. We are called to be holy! For us to be a witness to the world of who Jesus is we must be committed enough that we are a prisoner of Him. Our freedom is freedom from sin, not freedom to sin. We have the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us to help us and God expects us to use that power to overcome living like the world.
I Peter 1:13-16 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
Now, I ask the question, are you a prisoner of Jesus Christ? Does your life reflect who He is, or do you allow things in your life that you must justify? Do you ever hear yourself saying “It’s not so bad” or I don’t see anything wrong with it? Are you examining your life and finding out what God’s word says about you?
