Blog

Jul 31, 2026 06:00am

I Do

18 Views

Just a couple of simple words, yet they have such great meaning. During a wedding ceremony, both the bride and groom make their vows to one another, and it’s sealed with a commitment from both of them.

The promise to love, honor, and cherish one another through sickness and health, through financial struggles or gain, and through the good and the bad.

Just two words, yet they cover a multitude of meaning.

As Paul ends his letter to the Colossians, he writes these three words: “Remember my chains.” (Colossians 4:18)

While it’s just three little words, there’s a lot he’s saying. Here are four things to take away from this small statement:

1. “When you remember my chains, pray for me.”

Paul had been imprisoned for sharing the gospel and teaching that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. He needed prayer from the other believers. In my mind, I would think he would pray to be released. I can’t imagine what he endured. But Paul’s prayer might have been different. He was focused on doing the Father’s will. And if it meant reaching the Romans through chains, so be it. Perhaps his request for prayer was that he would continue with boldness for the Lord. That if he were weakened by the chains, he would rely on the Lord’s strength.

2. “When you remember my chains, see that there is a cost to sharing the gospel.”

He wanted the believers to know that the message they believed, the truth they had faith in, and the salvation they had received had to be shared. Many Christians today have made it optional, but not Paul. He wanted his chains to be a reminder of the desperate need for people to hear the gospel. And it was up to them to share it.

3. “When you remember my chains, know that this is the reason I’m not with you in person.”

Paul had a deep desire to pour into the believers. He wanted to teach them and show them what a life of following Jesus looked like. But because of his imprisonment, he could only communicate through a letter.

Aren’t we thankful?

Think of how many books of the Bible were letters written to believers. Because of those circumstances, we have these letters today. God used those circumstances for His glory—not just in that moment, but for centuries to come.

4. “When you remember my chains, know the sincerity of my message.”

Paul had written to the Colossians because false teachers were spreading heresy. If Paul wasn’t sincere about his message, would he have been in chains? The message of Jesus Christ was the absolute truth, and Paul was fully surrendered to the Lord and to sharing that truth—even while imprisoned.

He wasn’t working on finding lawyers to get him out. He wasn’t using his time to work out and make a plan of escape. He was sharing the truth.

Could we say the same?

As believers in Christ, are we committed to the gospel? Do we see the need for the Savior in our broken world? Do we realize that we have the hope they need? Are we willing to share the truth, no matter the cost?

When we asked Christ to save us, didn’t we call Him Lord? Didn’t we submit our lives to Him?

Think on Paul’s three words this morning and consider our vows to the Savior.

Yesterday at church, a young lady wanted to be baptized again. She had been saved and baptized at a young age, but she realized she hadn’t been serious about her commitment to living a life for Jesus.