UNBOUND

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! — 2 Timothy 2:8-9

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul wrote to remind Timothy of things he needed to remember as he ministered to people. Paul was a mentor to Timothy, but Paul was now in prison. 

Yet instead of complaining about his circumstances, he wrote to remind Timothy of what he needed to remember. Timothy needed to keep his mind set on Jesus Christ. Circumstances and life situations seek to take our attention away from Christ. Yet we must never forget Him and what He accomplished. Jesus is the risen Lord. He is a descendant of David, just as it was prophesied in the Old Testament. The gospel message is His story. He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. This is the message that Paul preached: 

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. — 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

Paul preached this message even though it led to suffering and imprisonment. Paul, who had once held one of the highest places among religious leaders, was now sitting in prison. He went from being a celebrated leader to an incarcerated criminal. He lost his status, place, and possessions to serve Jesus. He was once free to move around the known world, yet now he was bound and in prison. Many people in his situation would have been discouraged and bitter. Paul remained focused on the gospel. He realized that physical imprisonment had no bearing or power over the gospel. Even though Paul found himself in chains, the Word of God is never bound.

These verses have taken on greater significance in my life as I have had the opportunity to minister in the jail. It has been amazing to witness the truth of what Paul wrote to Timothy. While I am not bound, I get to share the gospel with men who are. The gospel message sets these men and women free despite the fact that they are still behind the walls of Polk County Jail. God is at work, and His Word is never bound. I have had the opportunity to see men come to Christ in jail. They came into the jail imprisoned by sin and by their actions. However, even though they are still in jail, they have been set free spiritually. It is a testament to the power of God’s Word. The power of His Word sets people free. His Word will not return void. What an amazing truth: God’s Word is never bound!