After I watched the beautiful, young bride walk down the aisle an old Steven Curtis Chapman song came to my mind: “Remember your chains, remember the prison that once held you before the love of God broke through…” When I saw her glowing in her white gown, I was reminded of the girl all dressed in black whose heart was as hard as her eyeliner was thick when we met nine years ago.  Remembering her past and journey to freedom in Christ made her beauty shine even brighter.

 

The song came to mind again the next day as aI visited a friend in prison. He allowed himself a moment to dream about his release.  He admonished me to enjoy the freedom I have and spoke of what he will do to embrace life when he gets out.

  As I left the prison and headed to church, the song still played in my head.  “Remember the place you were without grace, When you see where you are now, Remember your chains, And remember your chains are gone.”

With the wedding and prison visit fresh in my thoughts, the song led me to reflect on my own chains.  I remembered the sin and guilt Christ has set me free from and I worshipped Him again.  I arrived to church eager to declare His praise and ready to extend His grace to my brothers and sisters.  Although God has removed my sins from me, there is a deep appreciation that comes from remembering what was.

In Colossians chapter 4  Paul talks about the literal chains he was in for the sake of the gospel.  He ends the chapter by admonishing his readers to remember his chains.  Even as a prisoner he asks the Colossians to pray that God would open doors for him to proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which he was in chains.  As I reflect on the chains that bound my heart and life, I am reminded that many brothers and sisters today are literally bound in chains for preaching the good news of Jesus Christ.

Yesterday was the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.  You can see a report and stories of those imprisoned for their faith at Voice of the Martyrs website:  http://persecutedchurch.blogspot.com/2009/11/continue-to-pray-for-iranian-pastor.html

In recognizing God’s freedom in our own lives, let’s remember those who, like Paul, are in chains for the sake of Christ.  Will you pray for them with me?