Posted on 01/14/2024 4:36:23 AM PST by metmom
“Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body” (Hebrews 13:2).
Because we too are human beings, God makes it possible for us to empathize with others who might be enduring hardship.
The Apostolic Confession, an ancient church confession, says, “If any Christian is condemned for Christ’s sake to the mines by the ungodly, do not overlook him, but from the proceeds of your toil and sweat, send him something to support himself, and to reward the soldier of Christ.” You can see from this quote that the early church took seriously its responsibility to help people who were suffering persecution. To obtain money to free a fellow believer, some early Christians even sold themselves into slavery.
It’s unlikely we’ll ever have to face such extreme measures. But we can definitely learn from the heart attitude that prompted such an action. The point is, we should do whatever we can to understand what others are going through. We don’t necessarily have to experience the same starvation, imprisonment, or harsh treatment that they are enduring in order to sympathize. Being human—“in the body,” as today’s verse says—and suffering our own hurts and hungers should be enough incentive for us to help others.
You can have loving empathy for someone in at least three ways. First, you can simply “be there” as a friend to encourage the other person when he is in trouble.
A second way to show empathy is by giving direct help. The Philippians shared with the apostle Paul in his affliction by financially supporting his ministry in other places (Phil. 4:14-16). In this way they also encouraged him spiritually.
Third, you can give empathy through prayer. Paul’s closing words to the Colossians, “Remember my imprisonment” (Col. 4:18), were an appeal for prayer. It was the only means remaining by which the church could effectively support him.
If we have Christ’s example, who is not “a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses” (Heb. 4:15), how can we possibly ignore the hurts of others, especially those of fellow believers? Instead, sincere empathy should be a regular part of our service for the Lord.
Suggestions for Prayer
Pray for a greater alertness and sensitivity to those you know who might be hurting.
For Further Study
Based on the Good Samaritan story in Luke 10:29-37, what are the essential attitudes and actions of a good neighbor?
From Strength for Today by John MacArthur Copyright © 1997. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.
Studying God’s Word ping
Thank you for posting this.
There are quite a few organizations which help Christian prisoners and their families. Then there are organizations that support prisoners in general—being Christian is not a criteria for help, so be careful.
https://releaseinternational.org/
https://www.stewardship.org.uk/blogs/10-charities-are-helping-persecuted-christians-worldwide
https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/
Interest that the particular passage cited refers specifically to those imprisoned “for Christ’s sake”.
Yes, it seems so.
Or for those unjustly jailed. There are certainly more than enough of them as well. We’re seeing that more and more these days, too.
Still, there is need for prison ministries that reach out to unbelievers who are jailed justly.
10I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: 13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: 14But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.The issue here is unemancipated minors or intellectually challenged souls as well. To "remember" is not merely materially supportive, but also those who are figuratively effectively in bondage to familial, social, economic, military, medical, or employment overlords, personal or situational.
I think that the plain-literal term of imprisonment (δέσμιος = captive) limits a broader interpretation of the original language, as for instance in the type of conditions that Onesimus finds himself suffered.
The instructions to the Ephesians in the beginning of Chapter 6 covers several types of individuals inseparably tied to each other, doesn't it?
Ponder this matter deeply. To whom/which are you or I under freedom-limited bondage?
Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them,
This gets misinterpreted a lot.
The Apostolic Confession, an ancient church confession, says, “If any Christian is condemned for Christ’s sake to the mines by the ungodly, do not overlook him, but from the proceeds of your toil and sweat, send him something to support himself, and to reward the soldier of Christ.” You can see from this quote that the early church took seriously its responsibility to help people who were suffering persecution. To obtain money to free a fellow believer, some early Christians even sold themselves into slavery.
reward the soldier of Christ.
This was in my reading today, which I thought was pretty neat- it shows that we stand absolutely blameless before God through Jesus- despite all our failings. And also, God wants to bless us, not punish us, even thougH we fail because we are blameless through Jesus christ, again, despite our failings. Because God created us, it is his responsibility to care for us, and he offers help to everyone who calls upon his son for salvation. Praise be to God for not giving us what we deserve, who blesses even though we don’t deserve it.
” “Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy” ( Jude 1:24 ). One of these days my name is going to be called, and I am going to stand out, and God is going to look at me, and Jesus is going to step up and say, “Father, one of mine.” In Christ, holy, without blame. “He is innocent Father. He is without blame. He is faultless.” He is going to present me faultless. How? Because He is going to present me in Him. It is in Christ that I have this standing before God of faultless, without blame, holy. That isn’t me, that isn’t my works, that isn’t my efforts; that is the way God is going to receive me in Christ Jesus.
That is the way Jesus is going to present me to the Father, for He has taken all of my blame”
Thanks for posting MM.
ALL prisoners - or just those who are there because of Christ?
This is true
Or those who are justly incarcerated, but through it have become genuinely regenerated and wish to serve Him while they are yet there.
We are all prisoners of this body in this world, but will be freed of it and prisoners only of Christ, as Paul mentioned several times that "δέσμιος" was at least teproally his status relative to Christ the Lord of all.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:9 AV).Remembering thpse both in and out of the "gray bar hotels" of my home state, ministered to by The Prison Outreach of Delaware (click here), who can intercede on behalf of their supporters funding their activities in Christ's Name.
Amen! Awesome isn’t it?
it sure is-
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