The imperial conquerors of the great ancient empires like Assyria, Persia, Greece and Rome made it quite clear who had won the battle.  They would parade the captured soldiers in a chained procession so that everybody could see the scale of the victory.  Then, in order to show the newly subdued city or country that his rule would be of great benefit to them, the victor would give away a part of the booty to the townsfolk, as well as to his own soldiers.

These verses, that pick up on Psalm 68:18, show the powerful majesty of God in saving us.  He has captivated us with His love, and we have been only too glad to exchange the chains of sin's bondage for the joy of being bound to Christ. Not only does the Lord use His saved people to be recognised by the world and the church, as people who are willingly linked to Him by love - He also gives them to the church as special gifts to be used in His campaign of saving and blessing more people in the world.

The Lord Jesus Christ (who is now ascended in heaven) had first descended to earth to die on the cross ... so that the whole universe might recognise that He is the Lord of all.  And people around you (in your part of the universe) should come to know how wonderful Jesus is - because of you.  He has given you, as a special gift to your family, church, Christian fellowship, prayer group ... and to your colleagues and workmates.  It may seem a bit far-fetched that the God of eternity would come to earth so that you might receive His love and then be a broadcast service from heaven - but that is the truth.

Many believers feel inadequate to represent the Lord Jesus Christ, either in their personal behaviour or in what they say.  And, indeed, we are all inadequate for such a great task.  Paul says so in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16: "But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?".   It is time to dust off your unworthiness and reluctance to be used by the Lord: recognise that you are not supposed to be the answer to everything, but you are a living signpost to point others to the One who is.