In Ephesians 6:19-20, Paul makes a prayer request which is obviously his prayer as well. He writes, "Pray also for me that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains." His heart desire was that he would be able to share in ever deeper ways, the mystery, wonder, and knowledge of Christ. Not mere information about Him, but experiential knowledge of Him. He wanted to be able to share Christ even there, in the midst of the most trying circumstances. More, he desired that those circumstances, that dark, lonely cell, be used of the Father to take him into ever deeper understanding of the mysteries of the three in one God. He saw himself not only in that cell, but everywhere he was, as Christ's ambassador. His representative of Himself, as He is. Not someone who shares information of Him, but knowledge that springs from intimacy. He wanted to represent everything that Christ is to everyone he came into contact with. It was not just for the purpose of having them believe in and receive Him, but that they too might know Him. That they would enter into that spiritual mystery as well, and in the entering, He be revealed to them. That was Paul's response. I have my doubts as to whether it would be yours and mine.
I think our response would be more along the lines of "Lord, get me out of here! Lord, get these chains removed, or at least, loosened. Lord, surround me with nicer people. Lord, could you get me a more comfortable room? Lord, how much longer do I have to be here?" These would only be a few of our "requests" and I think our requests would likely be more correctly defined as complaints. I think few of us would ask in such a place that He make us vessels of His living water in that desert. That He reveal to us more deeply than ever before who He is, and who we are. That He would show us how we could best, in that spot, that very unfriendly place, show forth His life in and through our lives. That how, in this place despised of our flesh, we discover the unsearchable riches of His life and have them poured into ours. That's how Paul prayed, and how he asked others to pray for him. Would we?
I close with something Watchman Nee wrote. He said, "It will help us greatly and keep us from much confusion, if we keep constantly before us this fact, that God will answer all our questions (and prayers?) in one way only, namely by showing us more of His Son." If we are to really be His ambassadors, even when such means we walk through the darkest, most painful places, literally "ambassadors in chains," that we will have greater and greater revelations of Christ, His Son, and through those revelations, greater and greater degrees of His life. Life that will flow freely and fully through us, to others. Though kept in our own "prison cells" by so many different things, none can hold us as He, in us, calls others out of theirs. Ambassadors in chains, vessels of His freedom.
Blessings,
I think our response would be more along the lines of "Lord, get me out of here! Lord, get these chains removed, or at least, loosened. Lord, surround me with nicer people. Lord, could you get me a more comfortable room? Lord, how much longer do I have to be here?" These would only be a few of our "requests" and I think our requests would likely be more correctly defined as complaints. I think few of us would ask in such a place that He make us vessels of His living water in that desert. That He reveal to us more deeply than ever before who He is, and who we are. That He would show us how we could best, in that spot, that very unfriendly place, show forth His life in and through our lives. That how, in this place despised of our flesh, we discover the unsearchable riches of His life and have them poured into ours. That's how Paul prayed, and how he asked others to pray for him. Would we?
I close with something Watchman Nee wrote. He said, "It will help us greatly and keep us from much confusion, if we keep constantly before us this fact, that God will answer all our questions (and prayers?) in one way only, namely by showing us more of His Son." If we are to really be His ambassadors, even when such means we walk through the darkest, most painful places, literally "ambassadors in chains," that we will have greater and greater revelations of Christ, His Son, and through those revelations, greater and greater degrees of His life. Life that will flow freely and fully through us, to others. Though kept in our own "prison cells" by so many different things, none can hold us as He, in us, calls others out of theirs. Ambassadors in chains, vessels of His freedom.
Blessings,
Pastor O
No comments:
Post a Comment