Colossians 4:18. "The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen."
MY BONDS. I know there are brothers and sisters in bonds, Like Paul, they are often forgotten, some don't even know they are gone. Their names I don't know, many I have never seen - But I can pray for them and for where they have been.
I am sure their prayers are often heard by God at the throne of grace. And it is right for me to intercede for them in this place. I don't know what their present need is but I can plead their cause; And trust the Lord will allow then some relief, even a momentary pause.
My bonds are different, for I have never been bound or put in chains. I guess mine are like velvet cords of love, they are not the same. But there is a sense in which I am bound to fulfill a course. And when that time has past, God will give me another choice.
Paul appreciated people remembering him in his day. People today appreciate words of encouragement that you say. Their bonds may be those bonds of excruciating pain, Or some kind of illness that sometimes will wax and wane.
Other bonds people are in is a situation that seems extreme. They don't know what is the end of it or what is in between
The day by day exhaustion that comes when there is no way out - That can be helped by our intercession when they don't know what it is all about.
It is definitely in my power to ease the burdens people bear. It is a help to them to know we take them to the Lord in prayer. There may be opportunities to some way their load to share. Possibly there is a relief that comes to them even though we are not there.
"Father, remember the family who are doing the hospital watch over their loved one who is not saved. May there be some way the message of the Gospel can get beyond the hardened heart of a man who has resisted Thy grace for over 50 years. Give Linda special help in the visit today and may I be able to present the Gospel effectively tonight so people know how to be saved. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."