Emphasis Preaching Journal

Dr. Viktor Frankl was an imprisoned Jew in World War II. He was stripped naked except for his gold wedding band on his left hand. As the guards slipped that ring off Frankl's finger, he had what he came to believe was a revelation. This thought came to his mind: The one ability each human possesses is the ability to react to what others do to us. All humans are prisoners. Some people are handicapped with physical or mental disabilities. Some lack confidence or the ability to stay organized so they can do their best work. Some people are handicapped with too much money and constant fear that they must guard their "stuff." Some have too little money and fear not having life's necessities. Like the Apostle Paul, Christians are all prisoners. Paul was literally incarcerated for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul could mentally escape because he understood how "God's grace" given to him set him free in his life. It was a wonderful knowledge that he was free to be loved by a gracious God. We can be locked up as Paul was. However, we are free to use the Christian feelings and values we possess. That is how the Apostle Paul felt. He accepted the grace of God and therefore he was free.
-- Becker 1