2 Corinthians 3:12-18 (TNIV)

¹² Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. ¹³ We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵ Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

When we turn to the Lord in faith, the veil that covers our hearts and minds is removed and we are set free from guilt, sin, and death. We now have access to God’s presence and as we look upon His glory, we are transformed even more into His image.

Jesus calls us to follow His example and lay down our lives so others may live. As we offer ourselves to God, we can experience this freedom and transformation even more powerfully. This is the hope and joy that we are living with.

Response: Thank God that He has taken away the veil and through Christ, we now have direct access to God’s presence. Take some time to worship God and praise Him. In faith, let’s offer ourselves again to the Lord, pledging our lives to Him so we can be transformed even more into His image with ever-increasing glory.

Acts 26:22-32 (TNIV)

²²But I have had God’s help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— ²³that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

²⁴At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

²⁵“I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. ²⁶The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. ²⁷King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

²⁸Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

²⁹Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

³⁰The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. ³¹They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”

³²Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Before leaving for Rome, Paul is given a chance to defend himself before King Agrippa.  Knowing that King Agrippa had an extensive knowledge of Jewish beliefs, Paul gives a detailed exposition of the gospel message.  As Paul shares his testimony it is evident that his freedom is not what matters most.  What matters most to Paul is the proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah.  In this scenario where most of us would be consumed with self-preservation, Paul uses the opportunity to preach in the Spirit’s power the good news of the gospel.

While Paul may have physically been in chains, ultimately he was not the one in chains in this account.  King Agrippa, one of the highest earthly authorities during that time, was the one chained in unbelief.  Ironically, at the end of the passage the King says that he could have freed Paul, if Paul had not appealed to Caesar.  However, it was Paul who was trying to free the King.

Response: Freedom in the Lord is not freedom in the world, and vice versa.  Ask God to give us a greater desire for freedom in the Lord, even if this means that we may give up freedom in the world. Let us pray that He would free our hearts even more from the influences of money, power, and other temptations in our lives.

2 Timothy 2:8-13 (TNIV)

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, ⁹ for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

¹¹ Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;

¹² if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;

¹³ if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.

We may sometimes face afflictions and difficulties or even be “chained” by the circumstances of life. Yet as we labor ahead for the sake of the Gospel, we can be encouraged that God’s Word is not chained. His Word will prevail in our lives and the lives of others. As we “die” to our circumstances and our typical ways of responding, we will live with Jesus and experience the power of His reign over our lives.

Response: Be encouraged that the difficulties we face in daily life are not in vain. When we persevere together in this life in Christ, then we experience the power of God’s reign in our lives. Receive this power afresh, thanking God that He is always faithful to us even when we feel we cannot go on.

Philippians 1:12-18 (TNIV)

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³ As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴ And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

¹⁵ It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶ The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. ¹⁸ But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

It is probably not comfortable for Paul to be in chains. He is not actually in prison but he is under house arrest and is chained to a Roman solider at all times. He does not have any sense of privacy and cannot leave his house. Yet Paul willingly gives up his comfort and his freedom and actually rejoices. Through his chains, others are encouraged by his example to proclaim the gospel in confidence and to not be afraid of their own persecution.

We can also be encouraged by Paul’s example.  As we lay down our own freedom and comforts and surrender ourselves to how God wants to use us, God will use our surrender to advance His kingdom.

Response: Ask God to reveal how you may be knowingly or unknowingly holding on to your rights and privileges. As God gives you insight, lay these things down in faith and pray that others may be encouraged to know God and seek Him.

Acts 20:18-24 (NLT)

¹⁸ When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now ¹⁹ I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. ²⁰ I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. ²¹ I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

²² “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. ²⁴ But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

In this passage, Paul shares that he is bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem.  The Spirit tells him that jail and suffering await him, but he continues to serve the Lord, pressing forward to Jerusalem and never shrinking back.  Paul considers his life nothing unless he is finishing the work God has called him to do.  Paul will go to the very end, enduring hardship and suffering, to complete the task.

We are also called to be bound to the Spirit, living out the life that God has called us to live and sharing the Good News about the grace of God. Though there will be opposition because of the incredible significance of the task, may we continue to press on just as Paul does.

Response: Spend some time in prayer, asking God to direct our hearts so we as a church may be bound by the Spirit to press forward and not shrink back in sharing the Good News.  Pray that we would persevere through any opposition so we may experience even greater joy in doing the work assigned by Jesus.