Set Me Free: Devotions From Time of Grace MinistrySample

SET ME FREE FROM PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS: I'M IN PRISON

Some chains are visible. St. Paul's certainly were. Imprisoned first in Jerusalem, then Caesarea, then in Rome, he died a captive, a victim of the first wave of official persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire. Joseph spent time in an Egyptian prison, falsely accused of sexual assault on his employer's wife.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were bound and sentenced to die by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Their courageous testimony in front of a blazing furnace is a masterpiece of courage, trust, and serene resignation: "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (Daniel 3:17,18).

God can use even imprisonment of his children to advance his saving agenda. Through his guidance, faith is planted and strengthened in human hearts and he is given glory. The prophet Isaiah said that "freedom for the captives and release . . . for the prisoners" (61:1) is a thrilling part of Christ's gospel work. Sometimes he brought about truly miraculous releases--Shadrach and friends and Joseph were not only released but promoted to high governmental positions. Corrie ten Boom survived the Nazi concentration camp at Ravensbrück through a miraculous "clerical error."

Some, like St. Paul and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, bring glory to God by suffering martyrdom. Their release from prison coincided with release from all earthly suffering.