My Bonds. Colossians 4:18. I know brothers and sisters in bonds in other parts of the world. Their testimony to their faith in Christ has them languishing in prisons with little opportunity to communicate with others. Like Paul, they are often forgotten; some believers are unaware of where or why they are in prison. I have never seen them, nor will I until we all reach heaven. I don't know their names, but I can pray for them and see in my mind’s eye where they have been. I am sure God hears their prayers at the throne of grace, and it is only right for me to intercede for them in the same place, even though we are far apart geographically. I don't know their present needs, but I can plead their cause and trust that the Lord will allow them some relief, even a momentary pause, to get some spiritual refreshment for their souls.
My bonds are different; I have never been bound or put in chains. Mine are like velvet cords of love, but they are distinct. However, there is a sense in which I am bound to fulfill a course set before me that only I can complete. It may seem insignificant to me and others, but I remember that the work's importance isn't in the task itself but in the One who assigns it. When that work is finished and time has passed, God will give me another chance to serve Him.
Paul appreciated people remembering him during his time in prison in Rome. People always value words of encouragement they receive in written or spoken form. Their bonds may involve intense pain, mental suffering, or illnesses that sometimes get better or worse. There are other connections people have that can seem extreme. They don't know what lies ahead or what is in between. Each day, exhaustion sets in when they see no way out. This desperation can be eased by our intercession, even if we don't know what they are experiencing and they don’t understand what it’s all about. It is within my power to lighten people's burdens through prayer or personal support. It’s helpful for them to know we are praying for them. There may be ways to share their load. Possibly, there can be some relief for them even when we aren’t physically present.
Paul concludes this letter by personally signing it, which makes it authentic to skeptics both then and now. The Holy Spirit had him start the Book of Colossians with “grace” and finish with “grace,” which is the core message of the Gospel. All a Christian has, believes, and hopes for—serving as a guiding principle of Christian behavior—is summed up in the word “grace.”