My dear readers,

1. The Wonder of our Salvation

What thoughts pass through your mind if you happen to be a prisoner of State? The Apostle Paul, a prisoner of the Caesars, thought of the Christians scattered throughout the Roman Empire. What hopes and prospects for the future did they have?

Christians! The Apostle’s thoughts extended beyond the present life, touching on the life to come! The Christian’s hope goes beyond life in the present to the life beyond!

That’s the "everlasting life" Christians are so excited about! Ever since the Lord Jesus met him on the Damascus Road, and called him into the holy ministry, nothing else mattered! The Lord Jesus, whom he thought was dead and gone, was very much alive! From Heaven, Jesus spoke to him! The ever living Jesus!

Ever since the Lord Jesus met him on the Damascus road, Paul’s entire outlook in life took on a new turn! This same Jesus was calling him to be His chosen servant …

"… a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15) and

"… I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake" (Acts 9:15-16).

So, "prison"! To Paul, every breath remaining in his nostrils was to be spent for the Lord, "the Lord of life – everlasting." That was the Apostle’s one concern – to press on with the Gospel whatever happened.

What mattered most to Paul was to make known the Gospel (what the Gospel was all about). Three verses of Ephesians 1 essentially complete the Gospel story:

"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world …" (verse 4),

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (verse 7) and

"…inwhomalsoafterthatyebelieved,yeweresealedwith thatholy Spirit of promise" (verse 13).

We understand, then, by these verses 4, 7, and 13 that God the Father chose us in Christ, before the foundation of the world, and in Christ He purchased us with His blood, and after we believed, we were sealed with the Spirit of promise.

To recapitulate: the Apostle Paul’s foremost thought and concern, while in prison, was not of his own safety or freedom but that the gospel message might get to the recipients of the Epistle, that the message of the gospel might fulfil its function and accomplish its purpose.

Let us learn a lesson from the Apostle’s unwavering determination.

Dearly beloved, let us press on with courage. To encourage your heart, let me share with you a reading from Daily Remembrancer.

2. Doing the will of God from the heart (Eph 6:6)

GOD’S WILL IS BEST AND PERFECT. To know and to do, is every man’s supreme duty and delight. The will of God concerning a sinner is that he should believe Him, love Him, obey Him. His will concerning a believer is that he should reverence His authority, receive His Word and observe His precepts. God's preceptive will revealed in the New Testament is plain, and that is to be the rule of our conduct. Here is a duty to be performed, to do the will of God: to do it, though it excite the opposition of our fellow men, though it cross our natural inclinations. We are to do the Father's will, to perform the Master's command, to keep our Sovereign's laws, to obey our Saviour's precepts. The manner in which that will is to be done is also pointed out: from the heart. As every evil proceeds from the heart depraved by sin, so every good thing proceeds from the heart renewed by grace. "Doing the will of God from the heart," that is, not by constraint but willingly, from the heart, that is, from conviction, from love; we should do it heartily, throwing all our energies into it. Beloved, are you seeking to know the will of God? Are you willing to do it from the heart?

Be Christ my pattern and my guide,

His image may I bear;

O may I tread His sacred steps,

And His bright glories share!

Beloved, press on! Work, for the night is coming!

Work, for the night is coming

(Annie L Coghill)

Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the sunny noon;
Fill brightest hours with labor,
Rest comes sure and soon.
Give every flying minute,
Something to keep in store;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man works no more.

God bless all readers.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor