Imprisoned But Free
Gayle Crowe of World Christian Radio once wrote about a
man who found a ministry in prison:
In the early 1990’s, Dinh Trung, a Vietnamese Christian,
was thrown into jail for telling others about Jesus. While his wife and small children waited for
him at home, thousands of Christians around the world wrote letters to Dinh
Trung, supporting and encouraging him after they learned of his plight from
Voice of the Martyrs.
While others were writing and praying, what was Dinh
Trung doing? [He was] preaching to his
cellmates in the Quang Ngai prison. Over
the years many prisoners were brought to Christ. (“After all,” as the December 2006 VOM
newsletter reminds its readers, “he had a captive audience.”)
Recently prison officials
– concerned about the number of prisoners who had become Christians –
came to Dinh Trung to offer to let him go home months early. He stunned the officials by replying, “I
demand my right to complete my prison sentence.” He was alarmed that his teaching opportunity
was about to be taken away. Realizing
they had no other recourse, prison officials allowed him to stay.
His wife’s response was, “I am happy that God has given
my husband a ministry.” *
Why would a man choose to stay in prison when he could be
set free?
For Dinh Trung, the answer is that he had the opportunity
in prison to tell others about freedom in Christ!
It was the same for the Apostle Paul. From prison, he wrote to some concerned
Christians: “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to
me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has
become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains
are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by
my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear… Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice,
yes, and will rejoice” (Philippians 1:12-14, 18).
Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you
abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you FREE” (John
8:32).
The Truth is:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of
sin” (John 8:34). “All have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Therefore, all have become enslaved and condemned by it (Romans 6:23).
The Truth is: “if the Son makes you free, you shall be
free indeed” (John 8:36). Through
Christ, we are freed from sin’s guilt, its power, and its condemnation! “There is therefore now no condemnation to
those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
The Truth is: Jesus died on the cross to save us from our
sins. He paid the price for our
redemption so that we might have salvation and receive the gift of eternal life
(Ephesians 1:7).
The Truth is: God will save those who place their faith
and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized into
Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4). Then, as we continue to walk in the light of
His Word, the blood of Jesus will continue to cleanse us from sin (1 John 1:7).
Although they were in prison, the Apostle Paul and Dinh
Trung shared the Good News (the Gospel) of freedom in Christ! In Christ, we are free indeed!
Won’t YOU accept the offer of freedom from sin through
your trusting obedience to Christ?
-- David A. Sargent
* From “Different, Odd, and God” by Gayle Crowe of World
Christian Radio as shared in PREACHER STUFF MINISTRY RESOURCE EXCHANGE
(6/29/16), edited by Dan Williams of Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.
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