The Least of These

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to play at a minimum security prison. In this experience, we found that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive. Jesus asked us to visit those in prison, but sometimes the greater blessing is experienced by the minister than those who are receiving the ministry.

We had about 40 or so inmates spend their free time to come and hear us play. Throughout the evening, the Holy Spirit was at work in the room. Some of the inmates engaged in worship and some remained content to sit and listen. After we finished playing, Jerry gave his testimony and spoke about the hope that is in God. Undoubtedly, many of these men had experienced hopelessness in being thrown away by society and sent to prison.

My experience was to grow up in church, surrounded by the safe life of Christianity. In examining my own life, I can't help but see some of the thoughts and behaviors of the religious leaders, with whom Jesus so often differed. Much of my life was marked by an attitude of not really needing that much “saving.” I was like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11 who thanked God that he was “not as bad as other men.”

The last several years God has chipped away at this religious pride. I had lived in my own spiritual prison that kept true grace away at arm's length. But God has shown me that all of His children are in need of the same grace, regardless of the degree of offense on our scale. He doesn't regard our system of the severity of one sin compared with another. So while the inmates had committed crimes that landed them in prison, my sinful nature and sense of self-righteousness put me in the same desperate situation.

So when one of these brothers approached me during the prayer time, I was positively delighted to pray with him. He also saw me as an equal and simply wanted to fellowship and agree together as believers. He had a simple and clear manner of talking to God that was sincere and humble. He thanked God for everything that He had done in his life. When he finished praying, he thanked us for coming to the prison to encourage him and his fellow inmates. Though we gave our time that night, we really did receive something in return: the joy of connecting with our fellow man.

-Chuck