So yesterday after I wrote Words for the Day I went deer hunting and harvested a beautiful 10 point buck. Afterwards I went back home, showered, and went into meetings at work and did not emerge until it was time to drive to a maximum security prison in Georgia with associate pastor Kenny Munds.
The Kairos prison ministry group that we went into the prison with formed a “hug line” and about ten of us volunteers hugged each and every inmate that came into the building. I was surprised at how the men reacted to this show of affection, but every prisoner seemed to be genuinely happy that we were there and cared for them. It was a long line and took a tremendous amount of time but was worth it to them and us.
We sang some songs together, and then Kenny played his guitar and used his beautiful voice to glorify the Lord. He gave his testimony and then I closed with my testimony and we offered an invitation to those who wanted to follow Jesus instead of the world. The Holy Spirit was crackling throughout that place and we had a large number of prisoners come forward to accept Christ and also to rededicate their lives; (one of the volunteers said that he’d been coming to that prison for five years and it was the most he’d ever seen come forward at one time).
Yesterday as I sat on my deer stand waiting for my big buck to step out I thought of many things concerning what God wants me to do with my life.
He gave me my answer last night.
He wants me to put my faith in Him and enjoy life as best I can, (one day at a time), and He wants me to keep on doing what I’m doing in regard to witnessing to others about Jesus Christ and His redeeming grace.
I missed my best friend’s birthday party last night. When I called him and told him that I couldn’t make it, but I wished him well on his birthday, the first thing out of his mouth was, “What are you doing tonight, out trying to save the world again?”
I replied, “Something like that?”
He laughed and told me to go for it.
Kenny and I joined several other volunteers from practically all walks of life last night; there were lawyers, businessmen, farmers, construction guys, a preacher, etc. All had one thing in common; a burning desire to see souls saved for eternity.
As I stood among those hardened inmates with their tattoos (including teardrop death tattoos), I could sense their excitement at learning that their sins were being forgiven at that very moment, and now whenever they take that final breath they will see Jesus welcoming them into heaven where there will never be razor wire, or yellow lines, or steel bars, or showers where someone will stick a shank, (homemade knife), in their back, or towers with armed guards with automatic weapons ready to shoot them at a moment’s notice.
They will enter God’s rest and know His peace, and His joy, and His love forever and ever and a day.
Yesterday I ended Words for the Day with a verse that I love, Matt. 11:28 – Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
What I didn’t give you was the next verse “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS . . . ”
Hmmm . . . This does not mean that we won’t have any more work to do in the flesh, rather it means that Christ will give us rest and refreshment of SOUL that we may be fit for the work that God has prepared for us.
Or perhaps even a better way of putting it came from that old prophet Jeremiah when he wrote in Jer. 31:25 I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
Selah . . . Read that verse again carefully and think about it for a moment . . .
My friends, God’s idea of rest and ours is different. He isn’t telling us to go to sleep and relax for a few days; He’s telling us to go to Him in prayer and meditation and quietly rest in Him there. If we want to enjoy His rest, we’ll need to listen to Him.
Yesterday as I sat on my deer stand awaiting my big buck’s appearance, I enjoyed the sun coming up, and smiled at a noisy squirrel that was chattering away at me from two trees over. I settled into my stand and prayed and just listened to God in the great outdoors that He created.
No He didn’t split the earth with a mighty wind, follow that with an earthquake and then fire; He merely spoke to me in that gentle small voice of the joy and peace that I would know when I loved those guys in that prison, (Him), enough to forego attending my best friend’s birthday party last night and go and minister to them.
That is what God is talking about when He tells us to listen. That is where we will find our rest – (doing the will of our Father). I hope you get to experience such a thrilling rest; volunteer somewhere and rest in the Lord today before it’s too late!
Isaiah 28:12
“Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest.” But they would not listen.”
December 3, 2013 – Click here to listen