“All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, for there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end.” (John 9:4 The Living Bible)
When we think of work release, we typically think about a leave of absence from prison, enabling a prisoner to continue in normal employment. In my time as a pastor, I have been able to pick up actual prisoners and bring them to Sunday school and morning worship. The only requirement was that I brought them back with a church bulletin detailing the order of service for that particular Sunday and signed by me. No matter where we are imprisoned, we need to be in the special presence of the Lord. Imprisoned in this world filled with violence and volumes of sinful enticements, and victims of false teachings that spread their false beliefs, we need to be in the special presence of the Lord. Thank God for the virtual options to attend church, for those confined to their houses and nursing homes can be in the special presence of the Lord. People that are imprisoned by psychological and sociological conditions that have them in the state we refer to as “not in their right mind,” need to be in the special presence of the Lord, you know, the Mind Regulator. Don’t you agree?
From a spiritual sense, since we came to know Jesus, we are definitely not prisoners anymore. We have been released from the penalty of sin. We don’t have to look at the possibility of our freedom being revoked if we stay with the Lord. We are safe and secure in His hands. Nothing can snatch us out! And listen! We don’t have to wear a monitor on our ankle wherever we go, but we do have to be anchored in the Lord each and every day; in every place and every space. We don’t have an abbreviated, shortened, privilege time to sign in and out, but we do have to remember we signed up to be a witness for the Lord, and the only time parameter is that is we promised that we would serve Him until we die. What a privilege! No, we are not on work release as we initially think about it, but we are on a different type of work release. Do you need me to validate that statement. Well, read the verse above again, and read the verse below. As followers of Christ, you will find validation, and hopefully motivation to be fueled spiritually in the special presence of the Lord, and filled with a sense of purpose to do what He expects us to do on this earth. Recognize you are on work release and, as I always urge you, reflect on what you have read and respond to it accordingly.
Have a wonderful Wednesday, my friend. As you carry out your “work release,” wonderful, privileged duty, put forth, “release,” some joy, love, hope, and the Christ who lives in you. Be a ray of sunshine! Afterall, you are the light of the world! Work on shining brighter, better than you did yesterday during your work release. Be blessed!
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-English Standard Version)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King