July 21

Victorious Over Limitations

This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. — Col 4:18 BSB

At the end of his dictation, Paul took the stylus from his scribe and added his signature to the letter, a necessary final touch. As he did so, he remarked on his clumsy writing, comparing it to the neat script of his scribe, and explained, “Remember my chains!” It was as if he were saying, “You can’t expect me to write well after having my wrist in chains for three years!” He mentions this again in Galatians 6:11, where he notes the “large letters” he wrote with his own hand, likely due to poor eyesight rather than his chains.

But there are other kinds of chains that bind us and limit us. Many of us, as we reflect on our work at the end of the day, feel overwhelmed by a sense of failure. As we kneel before our Lord, we may feel compelled to say, “Forgive me, Lord. I have written Your name upon the hearts You placed before me, but it was done so poorly and unworthily. Remember my chains, and forgive me.”

Let us learn to accept our limitations as part of God’s will. There is no path to peace and power except by accepting His will, whether He appoints or permits our circumstances. Paul never forgot that he was a prisoner of Jesus Christ. He believed that every earthly limitation would result in spiritual enlargement. Weakness here leads to strength there; being delivered daily unto death brings forth new life.

Let us do all the good we can, even in spite of our fetters. Paul couldn’t continue his missionary travels, but many other avenues of service were open to him. He could pray, and he did (Colossians 1:3; 2:1; 4:12). He could influence others, and he did (Philippians 1:11-14). He used his time to write the epistles that have brought comfort to sorrowful hearts for centuries. There is a door nearer than you think, opening out of your prison, through which God will enable you to serve Him.

Prayer

Our Father, we trust that You make no mistakes. We believe that all things are working together for our good, and we rest in Your guiding hand. Amen.