Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job.
Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. (1 Peter 4:12-13, The Message)
'Raymond' is supposed to call today, if he can. That's our prisoner friend, the newest long-term worker in our agency. Funny the people God seems to send our way--sometimes not the ones you'd expect. It was one of the greatest days in my life when we got a long-term application from someone serving a life sentence without parole!
I think these are the Zacchaeuses, the Marias (Magadelene), and Bartimaeuses (Mark 10:46) of our day, the ones who love much because they've so obviously so desperately needed God's intervention in their lives (Luke 7:47).
Raymond's doing better after his roommate beat him up. Yep, I know that's normal prison behavior, but that doesn't make it any easier to take, or to 'watch' it happen to a brother in Christ.
Raymond's roommate got violent because Raymond wouldn't do something that was obviously and completely morally wrong. Sure, he was probably wrong to make a comment about it, which resulted in a fist to his nose and two black eyes. But I'll bet that you and I wouldn't have necessarily taken the previous relentless and on-going verbal abuse silently, either. Raymond had to put up with it for weeks on end--every night. In that respect, who of us is really like Christ (Isaiah 53:7)?
Even worse, the prison authorities seem to have punished Raymond for it primarily (though he made no effort to defend himself--just took the fists to his face) by moving him to a 3-man room.
Usually only prison 'newbies' get put into three-man rooms. They are really tight. The other guy gets to stay in his room on his own it seems.
But Jesus tells us 'not to jump to wrong conclusions'. This didn't happen because God wasn't on the job--it's part of His plan, as heavy as this burden is for Raymond to bear. The bright side of it is that Raymond is now closer to his Muslim friends than before, so their conversation is easier.
Actually, this is first-century Christianity. We've gotten used to having it easy here in North America that we get all up tight when somebody scorns us in the news media. Isn't that what a lot of non-Christians do--scoff at our faith? And why are we surprised, and why do we get defensive? And even worse, why do we think God doesn't care?
What if we would just 'chill out' for a change, and not answer back when maligned? Or at the very least, I wonder if there aren't some instances where we need to do that?
Of course there are instances when we shouldn't be silent--especially when it comes to advocating for 'the least of these'--which must include Christ's children in our prison system. They have a unique and badly needed ministry, but sometimes they feel very much alone.
Even in a three-man room.
U.S. Director
'Raymond' is supposed to call today, if he can. That's our prisoner friend, the newest long-term worker in our agency. Funny the people God seems to send our way--sometimes not the ones you'd expect. It was one of the greatest days in my life when we got a long-term application from someone serving a life sentence without parole!
I think these are the Zacchaeuses, the Marias (Magadelene), and Bartimaeuses (Mark 10:46) of our day, the ones who love much because they've so obviously so desperately needed God's intervention in their lives (Luke 7:47).
Raymond's doing better after his roommate beat him up. Yep, I know that's normal prison behavior, but that doesn't make it any easier to take, or to 'watch' it happen to a brother in Christ.
Raymond's roommate got violent because Raymond wouldn't do something that was obviously and completely morally wrong. Sure, he was probably wrong to make a comment about it, which resulted in a fist to his nose and two black eyes. But I'll bet that you and I wouldn't have necessarily taken the previous relentless and on-going verbal abuse silently, either. Raymond had to put up with it for weeks on end--every night. In that respect, who of us is really like Christ (Isaiah 53:7)?
Even worse, the prison authorities seem to have punished Raymond for it primarily (though he made no effort to defend himself--just took the fists to his face) by moving him to a 3-man room.
Usually only prison 'newbies' get put into three-man rooms. They are really tight. The other guy gets to stay in his room on his own it seems.
But Jesus tells us 'not to jump to wrong conclusions'. This didn't happen because God wasn't on the job--it's part of His plan, as heavy as this burden is for Raymond to bear. The bright side of it is that Raymond is now closer to his Muslim friends than before, so their conversation is easier.
Actually, this is first-century Christianity. We've gotten used to having it easy here in North America that we get all up tight when somebody scorns us in the news media. Isn't that what a lot of non-Christians do--scoff at our faith? And why are we surprised, and why do we get defensive? And even worse, why do we think God doesn't care?
What if we would just 'chill out' for a change, and not answer back when maligned? Or at the very least, I wonder if there aren't some instances where we need to do that?
Of course there are instances when we shouldn't be silent--especially when it comes to advocating for 'the least of these'--which must include Christ's children in our prison system. They have a unique and badly needed ministry, but sometimes they feel very much alone.
Even in a three-man room.
U.S. Director
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