For whether we live, we live unto
the Lord; and whether we die, we
die unto the Lord: whether we live
therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
Romans 14:8
A church group from New Jersey was here this evening...
the Lord; and whether we die, we
die unto the Lord: whether we live
therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
Romans 14:8
A church group from New Jersey was here this evening...
They've been coming into the prison every third Saturday of each month for at least fifteen years or more. They are greatly loved by the men, and we appreciate their sacrifice. After all, they are only volunteer ministers, lay Christians who receive no monetary rewards for their efforts. In fact, it costs them money in gas and tolls to get here - a 2 1/2-hour trip one way by car.
As is our custom, I would open the service with a prayer. Then I'd give the congregation a short five to seven-minute exhortation. So today my desire was to encourage both our guests and my fellow prisoners to hold on to Christ. I said that it is Christ who is keeping us. He is the one who upholds us. I explained that, if we, through our own will power or strength, had to hold on to Jesus, we'd have lost our grip long ago.
I added that we are to trust in all God's precious promises. We're never to lose our hope in the Lord. God, I told the church, wants us to have a hope and expectation that everything He has promised to His children as revealed in the Scriptures will come to pass.
Jesus has made provision for us, even in spite of our incarceration, I declared. We can live a life of spiritual abundance. With the help of God's indwelling Spirit, I said to the church, we can possess abundant joy, peace, and grace. Christ has already secured all this for us. Amen!
D.B.
As is our custom, I would open the service with a prayer. Then I'd give the congregation a short five to seven-minute exhortation. So today my desire was to encourage both our guests and my fellow prisoners to hold on to Christ. I said that it is Christ who is keeping us. He is the one who upholds us. I explained that, if we, through our own will power or strength, had to hold on to Jesus, we'd have lost our grip long ago.
I added that we are to trust in all God's precious promises. We're never to lose our hope in the Lord. God, I told the church, wants us to have a hope and expectation that everything He has promised to His children as revealed in the Scriptures will come to pass.
Jesus has made provision for us, even in spite of our incarceration, I declared. We can live a life of spiritual abundance. With the help of God's indwelling Spirit, I said to the church, we can possess abundant joy, peace, and grace. Christ has already secured all this for us. Amen!
D.B.