Copyright (c) 1997 Debi Gentry
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| The World Within Walls | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Please help me understand this world inside these walls, the world outside these walls, and the walls inside my mind! The everyday choices I used to have are gone. Yes, probably by my own choice. Now, day in and day out, instead of freedom it's routine checks, lockdowns, dog eat dog, and constant struggle for survival." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| As my nephew expressed these thoughts to me, I found myself wondering how Jesus would relate to my nephew and all the others behind those prison walls. Through His help, could I possibly reach out to these prisoners and really relate to their pain and sorrow, or must their bodies and minds remain locked up behind their walls? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Choices determine the course of our lives. However, we can learn by our mistakes. And no matter the seriousness of the mistakes, we are given the opportunity to look at Jesus recognize our deep need of Him and change. I believe there are a lot of men and women in our prisons just waiting and longing for one more chance to change their lifestyles, their thinking, and their relationship to their Maker. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| How can we judge or condemn these children of God? Some may even be eking out a miserable existence behind bars through a miscarriage of justice. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| When we look up at the cross we are all equal--all equally sinners in a sin-cursed world. Jesus doesn't berate us for our sins. He tells us there is therefore no condemnation to those who surrender their lives completely to Him. So instead of looking down at them let's reach out and help them find new goals, pray for them, and encourage them with letters and visits. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| I believe that God shows a special kind of love toward prisoners, including my nephew. But He depends upon us to translate His love to these needy people. The great Lover of all mankind says: "For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me....." and "Insomuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it on to me" (Matt. 25:35,36,40). Copyright (c) 1997 Debi Gentry |
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