"PRISONER FOR THE LORD!"

Ephesians 4:1-7                (ESV)
"1 I therefore, a "PRISONER FOR THE LORD", urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
2 with all HUMILITY and GENTLENESS, with PATIENCE, bearing with one another IN LOVE,
3 eager to maintain the unity of the SPIRIT in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one SPIRIT-just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-
5 one LORD, one faith, one baptism,
6 one GOD and FATHER of all, WHO is over all and through all and in all.
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of CHRIST's gift."



There are a number of things I have not experienced in my life, and a lot of those things I hope to never endure.  One of those is being PUT in jail for detention purposes.  Though I have never been incarcerated, the images in my mind of having my freedom greatly curtailed is not something I care to fathom.

However, being a prisoner OF something or someone is a lot different than being a prisoner FOR them.  In 2 Corinthians 5:14 the Apostle Paul writes "For the love of CHRIST "CONTROLS" us.....".  If we are "controlled" by someone or something you might say we are conforming to their wishes for our lives.  If we live "inside the boundaries" set forth by the laws of the land we abide in, we can operate freely.  If we violate the aforementioned laws, a penalty can be exacted upon us removing said freedoms.

CHRIST came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17) and to set us free INDEED (John 8:36)!  If we choose to live outside of faith in JESUS, we choose to live inside the bounds of sin (Romans 14:23).  If we live our lives "in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all HUMILITY and GENTLENESS, with PATIENCE, bearing with one another IN LOVE", we operate freely in HIS grace.

I'm not worthy to be called to be a child of GOD.  Surely HE could have found someone more adept or qualified to fulfill HIS Plan for my life?  All I can do is give HIM thanks and GLORY as I live inside of HIS freedom and am a "PRISONER FOR THE LORD"!