Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be a prisoner? you know, that locked down, back against the wall, held up, and unable to do anything kind of prisoner?
Let’s look at the woman at the well; she certainly became a prisoner. Almost immediately she gave herself up. “Here,” she said, “put the cuffs on me, take me into custody.” Locked in his gaze, captured by His authority and confined to a “life eternal.”
Webster defines a prison as 1) a place where a person ins confined; 2)a state or condition of being confined, restricted, or limited. So, we could easily say a prisoner is a confined person, a person in custody, or someone held captive. Metaphorically, Christians can say we are prisoners of Love with captive hearts and minds. We are prisoners of He who is love, who shed blood and even died for our sins. We are prisoners of He who resides in our hearts and minds.
As children of God, who better to capture us than our Savior, Jesus Christ? The ONE who is able to, “keep us from falling,” after we make a mess with our own hands. After we continue to make decisions without going before the “Righteous Judge” who either approves or disapproves of what we ask, do or say. After our feeble attempts at picking ourselves up once we’ve fallen, the end result is more frequent and fervent prayers. If we know that all things work together for good, then we should remember there is a price to pay for disobedience. Then we are found guilty and we are arrested; we suffer the consequences and penalties of our unthoughtful decisions.
Sometimes we even go to others, thinking they have the answer. All the while, the word tells us to “seek Him while He may be found.” So why not ask the Father first? Sometimes we even pull others into our sinking sand and cause them to suffer. When trouble arises, we have access to the only “one who never leaves or forsakes us, the ONE who holds tomorrow with power and authority and the key to unlock our troubles, issues, and circumstances.
In other words, as prisoners of God, we should abide in His will and way; allow Him to draw us nearer to him and be consumed in His power, authorit, and His everlasting race and mercy. Just as Paul was a prisoner to the gospel, so should we be chained to HIM as we become convicts to a life in Jesus Christ. I know what it feels like. I’m a prisoner of Jesus, for life.
The Woman at the Well
I love this! Isn’t it like us to look to ourselves first, others, then God? Our trials are to test our faith. I like the part about putting the cuffs on and being “arrested”!!! HE always delivers. Thank you WATW!
BE BLESSED