DAY 28: Wednesday, October 28
TOPIC: Those Incarcerated (and their Families on the Outside)
SCRIPTURE: “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” -Hebrews 13:1-3
OBSERVATION: The author of Hebrews tells us to remember those who are in prison. He does not give us an explanation as to why they are in prison. He simply says, ‘remember those in prison.’ Then he instructs us to identify with those in prison by saying, ‘as if you were together with them in prison.’ In another words, try to put yourselves in their shoes. Think about what they face each day and what they are going through in their condition. More than 5 million children, or one in 14, in the U.S. have had a parent in state or federal prison at some point in their lives, according to the Casey Foundation. We are not to ignore the many families who are dealing with life without a father or mother at home due to a prison sentence. Hebrews 13:3 tells us to keep on loving one another. This means showing hospitality to those who need it. This means we seek to reach out to those who are facing life without a significant family member.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, remind us of those who are suffering today because of a loved one who is in prison. I pray for prison ministries and for the gospel to go into these prisons to lead inmates to Christ and to a place of new beginning with you. Thank You that You are near to the brokenhearted. I pray we will all do what we can to reach out to those in prison along with their families. In Jesus name, Amen.