A Prisoner's Wish


They say the book of Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome sometime around 60 A.D. (that's about 27 years after Jesus died on the cross).

That means Paul was around 56 or so when he wrote the book.

Now I've been to Rome and I've seen the Mamertine prison where he was most likely held. The cell is below ground and is dark and damp and cold.  There is a hole in the ceiling, presumably from which food is thrown down.  It is a horrible, small, foreboding place and certainly one in which MY thoughts would most likely be focused on my misery.

However, it is here that Paul writes to the early church in Ephesus, urging them not to allow division, or to prioritize their status as either Gentile or Jew.  Instead, he says, it is their shared commitment to the cause of Christ and their belief in His divinity that should unite them.

In Ephesians 4 he writes, "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." - Ephesians 4:1-3

WOW.

In a world that often seems like we are at each other's throats, one in which I know divisiveness will grow as the election draws nearer, I hope we remember Paul's words and try to:

  • Live differently
  • Live righteously
  • Live humbly
  • Live gently
  • Live patiently
and bear with each other in LOVE, and as a way to honor Jesus and the sacrifice he made for us on the cross.

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