Probably nothing is as lonely than spending time in prison, especially if you're innocent of any crime or convicted for one moment of sinful indiscretion. With a small area within which to live, prisoners serve a preset period of time with no hope of release unless proven innocent in court, pardoned or find a way to escape prematurely. But, if they should escape, they will be subject to immediate arrest and incarceration for the smallest of offenses. Sadly, even when released a prisoner must contend with the label of convict for the rest of his or her life regardless of their innocence.

Millions of people are rightly behind bars, but far more are not but are prisoners in a spiritual jail of their own making. The people of Israel were like that. Their failure to heed and obey God's word placed them in harm's way and for generation after generation, God's people served a godless king in a godless nation. Their self-appointed jailers were the kings of Egypt, Babylonian, Assyria and Rome to mention a few.

This is a season to recall the birth of Jesus, but it should be recognized even more as the event that made freedom possible. Zechariah agreed with the psalmist and explained why a holy God would do such a thing for such unworthy candidates. In Zech 10:6 the Lord says, "I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them."

I can't think of a people less deserving of God's grace than the Jews, except for me. Think about the pardon offered us through Jesus: Though we are rightly in a prison of hopelessness, He gives us strength, salvation, restoration, forgiveness and an ear to not only hear our petition but to answer us. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture and He is our Shepherd. Thank you Jesus!

Today, you may be a prisoner of sin without any hope of release. You serve a wicked taskmaster that has you bound behind spiritual bars. Not only are you not free to go where you wish, you have no hope except to be granted an early end to your suffering. If that sounds like you, I have good news.

Jesus came to set jailbirds like us free. He holds the keys to our jail cell and with compassion wants to open it and let us out. All we have to do is ask for forgiveness and He will hear, answer and restore us. In one moment our pardon for sin is secured. We were in a debtors' prison unable to buy our way out, but now are free and eternally pardoned by the highest authority in heaven or earth. From this day forward we will no longer be labeled a prisoner, but instead be called a child of God, not perfect but forgiven.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Ze. 10:1-11:17 Rv. 18:1-24 Ps. 146:1-10 Pr. 30:33 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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