When we don't lead lives...
Illustration
When we don't lead lives worthy of the Lord, we can get into trouble. It got Roger into jail. He had been coming up short financially and decided to help himself by robbing a convenience store. The power of darkness had seduced him and now he was paying the price.
While in jail he was ministered to by his pastor, who weekly sent him copies of the Sunday sermon and who visited him for supportive conversation. During one of those visits Roger told his pastor, "I sure goofed up, but I understand now how I went wrong. I certainly won't do that again."
The pastor asked, "How are you preparing yourself for when you come out, so that this won't happen again -- or something like it won't happen?"
"Well, I'm sure enjoying the daily devotional book you sent me. That keeps me on track each morning and gives me something to guide me throughout the day. I especially like the stories about God's forgiveness for when we mess things up. I need to hear that." Then Roger went on to tell how he has been sharing the pastor's sermons with another jail mate, who seemed to get a lot out of them. "I had forgotten how enjoyable it is to be kind to someone else and to help out another person. I want to do more of that when I get home; it's going to be another eighteen months, but I can make it."
While in jail he was ministered to by his pastor, who weekly sent him copies of the Sunday sermon and who visited him for supportive conversation. During one of those visits Roger told his pastor, "I sure goofed up, but I understand now how I went wrong. I certainly won't do that again."
The pastor asked, "How are you preparing yourself for when you come out, so that this won't happen again -- or something like it won't happen?"
"Well, I'm sure enjoying the daily devotional book you sent me. That keeps me on track each morning and gives me something to guide me throughout the day. I especially like the stories about God's forgiveness for when we mess things up. I need to hear that." Then Roger went on to tell how he has been sharing the pastor's sermons with another jail mate, who seemed to get a lot out of them. "I had forgotten how enjoyable it is to be kind to someone else and to help out another person. I want to do more of that when I get home; it's going to be another eighteen months, but I can make it."
