God's Grace

My husband, Ben, went to prison this past weekend. To be clear, Ben was involved in a ministry in prison. Throughout the weekend, 42 inmates join the volunteer team for times of spiritual encouragement, prayer, worship, visiting in small groups, and eating delicious food made by another team of us serving a few miles away.

I can’t imagine what life might be like in prison, but the times I go into prison for the closing ceremony, I always have a grim reality check. The tall fences. The guards. The strict rules. All are reminders that those that are in prison are there for a reason. They’ve done wrong. They’re deprived of liberty against their will for a reason.

You may wonder, why would a group of people want to go in and serve these inmates. These men have committed crimes that will keep many in jail for a lifetime. The reality is that these inmates, with all their baggage, all the pain they have caused others, and all their sin, God still loves them. God uses these volunteers to demonstrate His unconditional love through Christ.

Some see Christ’s love through being heard. Others see it through worship. Others are blown away by the home-cooked meals. Some weep as they read letters written to them. Some can’t believe that the volunteers would take a weekend out of their life and just be present with them. They can’t believe anyone would love and care for them! And through all these things, they see and experience the love of God.

I sense we can often feel that we’re ‘better’ than these inmates. Most of us haven’t harmed society. Oh, we may have gotten a speeding ticket or two, but not committed a crime. However, even in thinking like this, we miss the reality found in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  In God’s eyes, you and I are no different than the inmates. We’re all in need of a Savior.

And when we understand the amazing grace of God, we want nothing more than to extend God’s grace to others. We extend grace to those in prison because God’s showered us with the same grace. We seek to love those that have harmed us. We assumed the best of others, even when their best is hidden in layers of hurt and hardship. (Scotty Smith) We become so aware of Jesus’ love that we extend grace in our thoughts, words, and attitudes. May the Lord help us love as we are loved and extend grace to all. We love because God first loved us. 

All are welcome in God’s eyes! Take a listen: listen:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXXxLwxfo0U

“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 

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the Greater San Antonio YMCA.