One of the primary concerns for people being released from prison is finding a job. As our illustrations I have viewed, formerly incarcerated people are almost five times more likely than the general public to be unemployed, and many who are employed remain relegated to the most insecure jobs. Our illustrations I have viewed also shows that formerly incarcerated people that are women have the worst labor market disadvantages despite being more likely to be looking for jobs. Especially women with children. People who are incarcerated deserve a 2nd chance without their neighbors or society judging them. Someone told me the other day. Why are you fearing for people who are incarcerated or out for a 2nd chance. I said Paul was in prison several times during his ministry, and, almost everywhere he went, there were people who wanted him in prison. “You know your any person who mocks believers? Their heart is not too far for Jesus to save. This is what goes on today and back in Paul’s day. It all began when Jesus confronted Saul the Pharisee on the road to Damascus and completely changed the course of Saul’s life.
It reads in Acts 9:1–20 ” But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened.” God had chosen Saul, better known to most by his Roman name Paul, for a special mission: to be the apostle to the Gentiles.
It reads in Romans 11:13; But I speak to you that are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;”
It also reads in Galatians 2:8; For the One who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles. For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles. Fulfilling this calling would mean enduring much suffering as in Acts 9:16, including beatings, shipwreck, stoning’s, and arrests for simply preaching the gospel.
It reads in 2 Corinthians 11:24–27; Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. We know of three times Paul was imprisoned. Given that Paul was active in ministry for thirty-five years, he certainly could have been arrested and imprisoned at other times as well. Paul’s arrests were a result of his being faithful to God’s call on his life, not of committing evil.
Romans 7:14–25 reflects Paul’s fight and failure with sin, the rest of the letter doesn’t make much sense. Let’s read it: We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Lets really read this and understand: Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.” Psalm 69:33. God gave us this powerful mind as a gift to pray for others, heal our body’s, because He knew these bodies couldn’t heal our minds.
It reads in Matthew 7:11; But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
It reads in James 1:17: If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
It reads in 2 Corinthians 5:1; Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever.
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Judge the sin and not the sinner. Luke 6:37-38
Love these verses that gave me a better perspective on life. Just saying!
It reads in Matthew 7:1-5 ; “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘ Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
It reads in James 4:11-12; Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge , the one who is able to save and destroy. But you-who are you to judge your neighbor?
I had to add these. Because when we judge a sinner and not the sin. We are condemning our selves and others. We are making the nightmare happen. Just saying. Only we can make the right changes in our own life and learn to say I am sorry and forgive others. Forgiving Others Who Hate Us. Just like Jesus asked for God to forgive those who were nailing Him to the cross. Luke 23:34!
“Giving our Lives for Others Jesus taught His disciples, and I believe He wants to teach us, that there is no “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
Praying for our Enemies, those who use you, gossip about you or abuse you and make you suffer. Loving our enemies is what makes us different. Our Heavenly Father. It’s what makes Christianity so special. God forgives those who are sorry for their sins, doesn’t matter how grievous they are. God loves us all whether we deserve it or not. realistically nobody actually deserves His love at all. God is so Holy and exalted we all fall short of His glory. Prayer and action will make your life right.
{Lets Pray}
Father God, Forgive me for wrongfully judging and teach me to love the sinner and hate the sin. Teach me to give second and third chance who don’t deserve this. But let me acknowledge that I don’t deserve Your forgiveness. You love us unconditionally as we walk with You in Your light. Teach us to pray for our enemies and bless them in away that they will acknowledge You in their life in need of a savior. We all are. We long to be more like You and to finish the work that You have prepared for all of us. I believe that I may be perfect as You perfect Your life in me in all I say and do, to Your praise and glory. I want so to meet You face to face one day either here on earth or at Heavens gate. I love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the honor and glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
{Power Verse}
To show partiality is not good, though a person may do wrong for a crust of bread.
Proverbs 28:21
"Only Life Changes" 