Challenge: Making Waves

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles –    Eph. 3:1 (NASB)

A profound thought occurred to me this morning – Paul was not in prison because he was a Christian. 

Christians then were much as Christians in the United States now.  As long as they didn’t make too many waves, they were free to do what they pleased without fear of such things as prison.  That did change over time – but it changed because it began to require more boldness just to be a Christian. 

Paul was in prison not for his own faith but for the sake of others.   Not for his own freedom to live his own life – his salvation was secure – but for the freedom of others to gain salvation.  His boldness to make waves that others might be saved.

In 2 Tim 3:12, Paul tells his young protégé that everyone who desires to live in godliness will be persecuted.  Can I live my happy little Christian life successfully if I am not bold enough to risk persecution?

Right now I have the freedom to live my faith unmolested as long as I don’t make too many waves.  But, am I living true godliness by doing so?  I think not.  Two things I still need:

1. To be so submissive to Christ that I am his “prisoner” in love such that no captivity of man can change my true belonging.
2. To have such a passion for the people of this world that, even though my own salvation is secure, I am willing to risk all – even persecution – for the sake of those who do not yet know. 

I am challenged to make some waves.