Zechariah 9:12 KJV
Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;
I love this expression, "prisoners of hope."
Christians have frequently been literal prisoners because of their hope in Christ. Apostle Paul is, of course, the greatest illustration this since his case is recorded for us in the Word of God. But he is by far the only one.
James was put in prison and then beheaded.
Peter too, was in prison, but God led his escape.
John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Through the centuries thousands of Christians, some whose record is extant and others whose stories are lost to this world (but not to God) have been imprisoned and worse for their hope in Jesus Christ.
But I find in the phrase something deeper than that; we are bound by our hope in Christ. That hope constrains us into a new and different way of living on this earth. Because of our hope in Christ, we are free. But we are not free to live as we please. We are free to live as God is pleased. We are free to worship Him in spirit and in truth. We are free to overcome our sin.
And because of our hope in Christ, we feel bound in this world. It is not our home. We do not belong here and we do not feel welcome here. We long for freedom from the chains of this world. We desire as Apostle Paul said, not to be unclothed, but to be clothed with upon with heavenly garments. (2 Cor 5:2-4)
We are in fact, prisoners of the hope that we have in Christ.
Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;
I love this expression, "prisoners of hope."
Christians have frequently been literal prisoners because of their hope in Christ. Apostle Paul is, of course, the greatest illustration this since his case is recorded for us in the Word of God. But he is by far the only one.
James was put in prison and then beheaded.
Peter too, was in prison, but God led his escape.
John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Through the centuries thousands of Christians, some whose record is extant and others whose stories are lost to this world (but not to God) have been imprisoned and worse for their hope in Jesus Christ.
But I find in the phrase something deeper than that; we are bound by our hope in Christ. That hope constrains us into a new and different way of living on this earth. Because of our hope in Christ, we are free. But we are not free to live as we please. We are free to live as God is pleased. We are free to worship Him in spirit and in truth. We are free to overcome our sin.
And because of our hope in Christ, we feel bound in this world. It is not our home. We do not belong here and we do not feel welcome here. We long for freedom from the chains of this world. We desire as Apostle Paul said, not to be unclothed, but to be clothed with upon with heavenly garments. (2 Cor 5:2-4)
We are in fact, prisoners of the hope that we have in Christ.
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