Oct 16 Devotion: Paul- the Willfully Submitted

Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles

         The Apostle Paul was committed to the cause of Christ. Once he was saved, he dedicated his life to the service of the Lord. He said in Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ…” and he states here in Ephesians 3 that he is the “prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles”. To be a “prisoner” is to be bound or restricted. It was something that Paul willfully submitted to. It was not forced upon him. He chose to be bound to his commitment.

         Notice also that his commitment is not only to the Lord but to the Gentiles on Christ’s behalf. It was a ministry that reached out to the people that Jews often referred to as dogs. How could this be? The answer is that Jesus Christ changes people when they get saved. Their former priorities and attitudes become a thing of the past. They have a new path and perspective.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

         What an amazing transformation. Paul went from being a blasphemer and a persecutor of the church, to the Apostle to the Gentiles, the church planter, the preacher of the gospel, and human writer of most of the New Testament. It is amazing what the Lord does in the one that will trust him as their Savior. What God can do in the heart of the believer really reaches to the heights of being indescribable, but that is what God can do. His grace can reach into the depths and raise us up to the heights. We can become spiritually valuable in the service of the Lord.

         Are you willfully bound to the cause of Christ? It is a great privilege to represent the Lord in this world. The ministry needs those that will say, “Here am I Lord, use me, send me. I am ready to do your will”.

In Christ’s Service,

Bro. Adrian Moore

2 Cor. 4:5