When men and women are convicted of a crime, they are stripped of their identity and freedom, and are given a number to identify them. They are locked up and forgotten, not all of them, but some are abandoned by their families and never see them again. However, there are some who still have families who love and care for them and miss them dearly. Some in prison are fathers with a wife struggling at home to raise children on her own. Some in prison are mothers who have a husband and children that struggle on their own. Some in prison have parents, who long to have them home. These families are doing time with them, and it isn’t easy, but they still have hope that one day their loved one will be released. Prisoners no longer have communication with the real world and are left to try to survive on their own, locked in a cell alone. Then there are others, who try to survive with other prisoners, locked away in a community of their own.
Even though they are forgotten in today’s society, they are not forgotten by God. In fact, these individuals are very important to Him and Jesus even says in His word, He is there with them. Matthew 25:36
Well today marks the day of His crucifixion and He has put this word on my heart to share with you…
When Jesus hung on the cross bleeding from severe beatings and suffering, He wasn’t alone. There were two criminals, one on each side of Him. He heard faint whispers, “Remember me.”
He looked and was moved with compassion for the criminal. He saw his heart and answered, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
He died not only for him, but for all the prisoners in prison, men and women.
In fact, He died for everyone, of us today. We are all sinners saved by grace!
Let us also be like Jesus and have compassion on the criminals all around us that are locked up. They are calling out to us, “Remember me.” Can you hear their faint cry in the distance? I can!
They need to be remembered for they are human beings, people like you and me. Sure, they have done wrong and are now paying their debt to society, but that doesn’t mean we’ve to lock them up and throw away the key and pretend they don’t exist. In God’s word in Hebrews 13:3 it says, Remember the prisoners as if chained with them…
In God’s eyes all mankind is valuable and each of us are a living soul and He loves us all equally. If ever they need our prayers it is now as the corona virus spreads. We can space ourselves accordingly, but they can’t! Due to the overcrowding in prisons, there is nowhere for them to go. Presently the virus is in some of the prisons, and men and women are dying every day. Please remember them as according to His word and keep them in prayer and their families at this critical time! Thank you and I know God will bless you as you do!
Editor: Jan Hodgins/Pray for a Prisoner page on Facebook
©PassionateHeartLFH
Author June Hodgins 