Terri's BlogChristian perspective on today's issues.

Have you ever been to prison?

Have you ever been to Prison?

Been there, Going, There now, Know someone there?

Hebrews 13:3(A) tells us to “remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners.”  I can promise you this, if I were ever in prison, I would covet all prayer on my behalf.  Wouldn’t you? Do you pray for those in prison?

I once watched a documentary titled “Scared Straight”, about a group of juveniles taken into a prison where they were berated, yelled at, and terrified by some prisoners called “Lifers” in an attempt to “scare them straight”.   I don’t know about the juveniles, but it worked for me.  Thank God that was the closest I ever came to knowing what prison is like.  But today’s prisons would hold no horrors such as those in the time of Christ, so the author of Hebrews was making a very, very sincere plea.

 Not having any experience with the subject of prison, I was wondering why God led me to this scripture, and what the lesson would be.  As always, He put the words here (although I tend to add to them, as you well know).   What little I could find on the subject from the time of Christ was that most prisoners were not in “cells”, but were chained to a wall, usually underground, with very little light, and no other facilities. They were in bondage.  The Bible tells us that unforgiven sin holds us in bondage, much as though we were chained to it.

 Now, every single one of us knows sin; we’ve known it all our lives, and even as Christians we still sin.  Romans 3:10 says “There is none righteous, not even one.” It doesn’t say there were none, it says, is.

    And in John 8:34 Jesus said “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”   You Christians, before you start getting all indignant and throwing away your righteousness in anger at me, please hear me out. 🤞🏻😁.     I have no basis from which to be writing about prison, thank the Lord, but I can certainly write about sin. As a matter of fact, until I surrendered my life to Christ, I was on my way to becoming an expert on the subject.  But the topic today is Hebrews 13:3A (Remember those in prison as if you were there with them.)  Remember them how?  I believe the writer was saying visit them, because in those days they weren’t given clean clothes nor fed three squares a day, if at all. So, they depended on relatives or friends.

    I have a friend who has driven 150 miles (round trip) once a week for several years to teach a Bible class to men at a large prison.  My older sister “goes to prison” every Wednesday to grade the papers of inmates who are taking Bible courses.  I’m thankful God lets me “remember” prisoners in my prayers, and I do so, hoping that he doesn’t change his mind and want me to go there.   However, if he calls me to go, I’ll go.   Because if God asks us to do something and we don’t, we will be miserable until we obey. (Now there’s a subject I can speak about from experience, but that’s a topic for another day.)

    I have several friends who were once prisoners, but in a way, we don’t usually think about, they were addicts.  Whether it was drugs, alcohol, pornography, gambling, etc., they are now “clean”, and are some of the finest Christians I know. Period.  They are more than willing to tell other addicts about their freedom from sin.  They know Christ broke their chains and set them free.  They love having been set free – and brother, they can PREACH IT!  Hallelujah!  They also know that just one little slip, one mistake, can send them back to that former life, so they rely – daily – on Christ, praying fervently for themselves and their lost friends who are still in bondage.

    I was never an addict in the way my friends were, but frankly, I wish more Christians were more like them.  Yes, I said that.  I wish we were as aware of the sins we’ve been forgiven of, were more thankful of His Grace, more diligent about giving Him thanks, and more purposeful with our witness.   I’m not saying dwell on your past – No!  Isaiah 43:18 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” (Emphasis is mine).  Do not tell the lost about your sinful past.  When you witness tell them about what your life is like now.  Tell them how you have been forgiven of all your sins.  Think about how my friends, the former addicts, tell others: they are excited about their freedom, So thankful, and so wanting their friends who are still “in chains” to have what they now have!  If only we could have that excitement, that desire, that fervor.

Dear Lord, please return to us the joy of your salvation.  Help us to be aware of the needs of those around us, and of the urgency to tell others about You.  Help us to remember those in prison, because we were once a prisoner of our sins.  Thank You Lord. Thank you, thank you, thank you for what You have done, and what You are going to do, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

In His service, and yours,
Mike Jared
TCM board member