Chained and Unchained
Here are some thoughts about this Sunday's second reading. What do you think? Let's talk about this. The reflection was sent to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.
8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, 9for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11The saying is sure:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
13if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.
14Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
13if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.
14Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.
How do we keep on when our world is turned upside down? Our marriages may have crumbled, our finances have maybe tanked or our health isn’t what it once was. Maybe our children or other members of our family are living lives contrary to God’s word while we weep and pray for them. Does it even seem worthwhile to keep on keeping on?
But look at the example of Paul. He was in prison, in chains. That would certainly be discouraging. After all, he had the care of so many churches, some of which he had founded. He couldn’t continue to do the work God had called him to with the churches. What was he supposed to do?
Hmmm, he writes that “the word of God is not chained.” God’s work through his word continues even without this apostle of the faith. Paul continues to “endure everything for the sake of the elect.” Paul continues to suffer for the sake of God’s children. And God’s work goes on.
Because God is faithful, we can entrust our cares to him no matter what our situation is because “the word of God is not chained.” No one on this earth can stop God’s powerful word from working through the Holy Spirit.
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