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The Pilgrim Path (6-13-2020)

The Pilgrim Path---Hebrews 13: 3

"Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body."

My brother Wayne was in prison for almost 14 years. Various offences placed him behind bars. I remember him recounting his first night in Holman Prison, close to Atmore, Alabama. He was in something like a dorm environment with over 400 men. That first evening, a man crawled across the makeshift holding area, and stabbed the man to death in the bunk beside him. My brother said, "I'm glad he got the right man."

Neither the Judge or Jury, tell you about all the additional "sentences" you get---when you go to Prison. You get them. They are not pleasant, and quite a few are somewhat unspeakable---especially if you must go to a larger prison. When I worked with Promise Keepers years ago---we'd visit the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, in Pearl, MS. At the time, a prisoner population of about 2,300. Every Tuesday evening we had a brief Church Service and Men's Bible Study. I went "in" thinking I had problems---would leave, realizing I really had no problems at all. There were about 25 Trustees and a dozen or more Youth from the Boot Camp Program (minors that were mentored by these godly trustees / these minors were "in" for assault with intent to kill, attempted murder, etc.,). God's Word genuinely made an impact upon these men's lives. The State allowed us access to the young men "after" trouble...all states are like that? What a pity? Most should not fight to deny biblical access and mentoring ahead of trouble...

"Remember those who are in prison..."

It's easy to forget about those prisoners. The State of Mississippi, would give an inmate, 2 pair of socks, 2 underpants, 2 shirts, I believe--- 1 heavy wear pant, every six months. What would you expect from the poorest state in America? Where the inmates slept was not air conditioned. You say, "Serves them right!" When I left the state in August 1999, it was 119 degrees with the heat index---around 4:30 PM...really never gets too cool by 10 or 11 PM....I saw their food....you would not eat it...Locally: The Wicomico County Jail may easily have 450---480 people incarcerated every week. They do what they can to handle medical concerns, mental health issues with those inside. Is it adequate? Probably not. None of us want to be perceived as being "soft" on crime---We already spend incredible amounts of money---yet, we wonder at times, to what end? Public defenders have more cases than they can handle and people are often not "remembered". I applaud the officers that help us "in and out" with Church Services---they have been the best. Yet, we've had no connection at The Jail--- with COVID-19, due to virus fears. Pray for the prisoners and Chaplain Brown---he labors on with all the souls that are incarcerated (his testimony is that the LORD saved him in prison in 1961).

Note this text, Second Timothy 1: 16, "May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains..." The Apostle Paul is glad this brother came to "see" him in jail. He refreshed me...

Maybe you need to be moved a bit. Perhaps shaken. I would recommend the book by Bryan Stevenson, "Just Mercy." ---A Story of Justice and Redemption. This was made into a movie. The book is far more telling and comprehensive. It was a # 1 New York Times Bestseller. I'll give you a quote---you don't have to agree with it all, but you should ask, "What bothers me--and why?" From Attorney Bryan Stevenson, Harvard Law, Founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, Montgomery, Alabama.

"Each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done. My work with the poor and the incarcerated has persuaded me that the opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is justice. Finally, I've come to believe that the true measure of our commitment to justice, the character of our society, our commitment to the rule of law, fairness, and equality cannot be measured by how we treat the rich, the powerful, the privileged, and the respected among us. The true measure of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, the accused, the incarcerated, and the condemned. We are all implicated when we allow other people to be mistreated. An absence of compassion can corrupt the decency of a community, a state, a nation..."

There's been a great deal of "mistreatment" in our society lately:

---some police officers falsely accused: simply because they "are" law enforcement...

---excessive force by officers---documented on video / multiple cities...

---protestors "driven into"--- by people in vehicles / multiple cities

---journalists attacked, beaten ---merely for "showing up" in some instances---by police (and others). Some arrested for doing their jobs...

---people of color---automatically "assumed" to be rioters---when they were merely protesting---a constitutionally protected right...

The Gospel has powerful application to the world we live in. The LORD help me see and know this every day....

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God."

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5: 3--10

"Lord, send a revival---let it begin in me." James E. Orr

Lord, I was blind: I could not see in thy marred visage any grace;

But now the beauty of thy face in radiant vision dawns on me.

Lord, I was dead: I could not stir my lifeless soul to come to thee;

But now, since thou hast quickened me, I rise from sin's dark sepulcher.

Lord, thou hast made the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak,

The dead to live; and lo, I break the chains of my captivity!

William T. Matson (1839-1899)

Grace & Peace in Jesus Our LORD, Pastor Jason