“你们要记念被捆绑的人，好像与他们同受捆绑，也要记念遭苦害的人，想到自己也在肉身之内。” – 来 13:3
我很难忘记我邻居那天脸上的表情。我女儿问我那天晚上有什么事情要做，我说我会到监狱那里。坐在分隔我们两家后园篱笆的另一边的邻居，脸上露出惊讶的神色。事实上，那天吃完晚饭后我与一些弟兄真的去到县监狱，与一些囚犯分享耶稣的爱。
探访囚犯是我生命中最有意义的经历之一。每一个星期我们与一群以男士为主的囚犯相聚。那是在监狱最高设防范围内，这些囚犯都是被控谋杀的，如果被定罪，他们便可能被判终身监禁，而不会有假释的机会。当他们初入狱时，他们常常祈求被判无罪。但经过数月一起研读神的话语后，他们改变了他们的祈祷。他们开始感谢神把他们放在狱中，他们为自己的罪行与罪求神饶恕，喜乐取代了恐惧和焦虑。在通往灭亡的道路上，现在他们已遇见复活的主，在天国里生活。虽然是被囚在狱中，他们知道自己在基督里是自由的，而且比一般人更渴望在新国度里的生活！
祷告
耶稣啊，求你帮助我们不要忘记被囚的人。我们从前都是被罪与死捆绑，但你释放了我们，又赐我们新生命！惟愿我们能使用我们的自由引领其他人也得到自由。奉你的名祈求，阿们。
希伯来书 13:1-8
1你们务要常存弟兄相爱的心。
2不可忘记用爱心接待客旅，因为曾有接待客旅的，不知不觉就接待了天使。
3你们要记念被捆绑的人，好像与他们同受捆绑；也要记念遭苦害的人，想到自己也在肉身之内。
4婚姻人人都当尊重，床也不可污秽，因为苟合行淫的人，神必要审判。
5你们存心不可贪爱钱财，要以自己所有的为足；因为主曾说：“我总不撇下你，也不丢弃你。”
6所以我们可以放胆说：“主是帮助我的，我必不惧怕，人能把我怎么样呢？”
7从前引导你们、传神之道给你们的人，你们要想念他们，效法他们的信心，留心看他们为人的结局。
8耶稣基督昨日、今日、一直到永远，是一样的。
I was in Prison, And You Visited Me
“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” – Hebrews 13:3
It is hard for me to forget the look on my neighbor’s face. My daughter asked what I was planning to do that evening, and I said I was going to jail. The neighbor, sitting on his side of the fence that separated our yards, had a look of astonishment on his face. After dinner that evening, I headed over to the county jail with a group of men, and we shared the love of Jesus with some of the inmates there.
Visiting prisoners has been one of the richest experiences of my life. Week after week, we gathered with a group of mostly young men. We were in the highest security section of the prison. These were people charged with murder. If found guilty, they would likely be sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. When these men entered the jail, they often prayed that they would be found innocent. But after several months of meeting around God’s Word, these men changed their prayers. They began to thank God for putting them in jail. They asked for forgiveness for their crimes and their sins. Joy replaced fear and anxiety. Having been on the path to destruction, they had met the risen Lord and were now living in the kingdom. Though in prison, they knew they were free in Christ—and few look forward to life in the new kingdom more than they do!
Prayer
Jesus, help us to remember prisoners. We were all prisoners to sin and death—and you freed us, giving us new life! May we use our freedom to lead others to freedom. In your name, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
