Rise Up and Reign

For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also
he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 
Ecclesiastes 4:14

During my Scripture reading for this morning I came across a little known passage from the book of Ecclesiastes that encouraged me a lot...

Satan is a liar and he will often try to play on my mind to get me to think that I am worthless and useless because I'm in prison. But God, as He often does, will take the most seemingly hopeless situations and turn them around. He has a way of reversing things, ever changing one's circumstances so that the poor prisoner who was at the bottom of the social stratum is placed at the top, while the powerful and prosperous worldly man suddenly finds himself at the bottom.

God, you see, takes pleasure in using the "foolish" things of this world to confound those who think they're so smart and wise (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). He likewise humbles those who sit proudly upon the highest pinnacles of society. While, at the same time, He raises up from the dregs of humanity the ones He has chosen to proclaim His word and do His work. "For God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5)."

Therefore, fellow prisoner and Christian, open up your heart to Jesus and allow Him to use you for His glory. You've been chosen to reign with Him, forever. So rise up, reign, and rejoice.

D.B.