Remember My Chains

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. (Colossians 4:18)

Paul closes his letter to the Colossians with something deeply personal. Instead of dictating, he writes this final line with his own hand, adding weight and intimacy to his words. In that moment, he includes a simple yet profound request: Remember my chains. The word “remember” means to be mindful of, to think of, and to feel for. Paul wasn’t just giving them information about his imprisonment; he was inviting them into compassion, empathy, and prayer.

How often do we hold others in this kind of mindful remembrance as they walk through trials? Or do we too easily become absorbed in our own lives, forgetting those who are “out of sight” and thus slip “out of mind”? At the start of his letter, Paul had written about how he remembered the Colossians, praying for them and giving thanks for them continually. Even while in chains, his focus was on others, and he now humbly asks for that same reciprocal love: to be remembered before God in prayer.

Notice the order Paul chose. He devoted the bulk of his letter to strengthening, encouraging, and guiding the Colossians. Only at the very end does he make this small, personal request. Paul’s ministry was fruitful because his life was centered on Christ, directed toward serving others first, and yet balanced with the humility to ask for support. This alignment of priorities with God is what allowed him to endure faithfully, and what we are called to emulate. So remember, and grace be with you.