Today's Daily Bread
The Challenge Of Confinement
At the age of 86, Ken Deal concluded more than 3 decades of
volunteer jail and prison ministry with a final Sunday sermon. His
message to the inmates was about serving the Lord while incarcerated.
Many of the examples he used came from prisoners, some serving life
sentences. In a place everyone wants to leave, he encouraged them to
grow and to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.
After the people of Judah were taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar
and deported to Babylon because of their disobedience to God, the
prophet Jeremiah sent them this message from the Lord: “Build houses and
dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget
sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters
to husbands . . . that you may be increased there, and not diminished”
(Jer. 29:5-6).
We may face some limiting circumstance today. Whether it is the
result of our failure, or through no fault of our own, we can “go”
through it or seek God’s strength to “grow” through it. The challenge of
every confinement is to increase rather than decrease; to grow and not
diminish. The Lord’s goal is to give us “a future and a hope” (v.11).
I know, Lord, that You can use the circumstances
I am in for my good. Change me, and grow
me in my knowledge of You and intimacy
with You. Give me Your strength.
I am in for my good. Change me, and grow
me in my knowledge of You and intimacy
with You. Give me Your strength.
A limited situation may afford the soul a chance to grow.
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