A Prisoner of Christ Jesus

 Isaiah 6,7; 2 Chronicles 26,27; Philemon 

“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,”

Philemon 1:1

Who would introduce themselves in a public letter as a prisoner?

Paul wasn’t ashamed about his prisoner status because he knew his imprisonment was the will of God. From the first days of his conversion when the Lord showed him how much he would suffer for Christ’s name (Acts 9:16), Paul knew that suffering was part of his Gospel witness.

Was suffering for the Gospel an assignment given only to Paul, or is there an invitation for us as well?

If Paul could introduce himself as a prisoner, not of Caesar’s, but of Christ Jesus, then we can also introduce ourselves as prisoners of Christ because of his call on our lives. We are teachers for Christ Jesus, business leaders for Christ, students of Christ, and builders for Christ. Our identity and calling come from Christ if we belong to him, no matter our occupation.

What difference will that make in how we see ourselves today?

“Lord Jesus, I am your mission leader and I find my direction from you, for your glory.”