chained or changed for eternity?

So....
your missionary friend
writes you this letter...

And as you read it, you realize
not only has he been
persecuted for his faith,
but now he's been put in prison.
And he's asking you to step it up
in the prayer department.

So you read on...
Continue earnestly in prayer,
being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
meanwhile praying also for us,
that God would open to us
a door for the word,
to speak the mystery of Christ,
for which I am also in chains,
that I may make it manifest,
as I ought to speak.
Colossians 4:2-4 NKJV

Wait... what?!

You mean, getting thrown
into prison... and placed in chains,
isn't a good enough
excuse to say...
"Look God, I've been trying, here.
But this is a tough crowd.
So I'm gonna take a break."

Because I think that's what
I'd most likely say in that
dismal sitatuon.

And here, our friend, Paul
writes asking for prayer
that even in his chains
he would have an opportunity
to share, to speak, to make known
the gospel of Christ.

Can you imagine?
Because I simply cannot.

I'll be honest to say that I'm not
always faithful in sharing
without chains.

Furthermore...
I'll admit prayer, but
continued, earnest prayer...
vigilent with thankgiving.
I wouldn't qualify mine as such.

This friend of ours
is putting me in a tough spot.

And I realize that's not
his intention.
But I think God really wants us
to re-think our committment,
our comfort level,
our convictions.

Are we truly followers of Jesus
or simply those who want to
use His name as a one way ticket
for the after life?

Because that will leave
a whole lot of people on
the wrong side of eternity.

An Paul had a passion
to spread this gospel...
this good news of Jesus and
His resurrection, for all to know.

Not only for eternal salvation,
but for a better life today.

Clearly, Paul had something
I need more of...
higher perspective.

He had a way of seeing past
his current circumstance
to understand the weight
of eternity.

He was long-sighted
and not short-focused.

I want more of that,
but honestly,
it shakes up the easy things
I choose and makes me uneasy.

Maybe this should make us feel
uncomforatble.
Maybe it's supposed to.
Because we were created
for eternity.

So I think I'm going to hang onto
this feeling for a while today...
marinate in it,
pray about it,
let it break down my defenses
until I'm ready to make a change.

Even if I'm not ready for chains,
I can still be ready for
continued, earnest prayer...
vigilent with thankgiving
that God would open to (me)
a door for the word,
to speak the mystery of Christ...
that I may make it manifest,
as I ought to speak.

Lord, help me in this...
my weak will and fear
which makes this sound
so very foreign to the life
I've settled into.

Word of God
train me today...
To be more aware that salvation should not
end with me as a self-centered decison.

​To soften my heart and prepare me for
a ready opportunity to share this Good News.