I spent the night in the Sheriff Coroner’s Department and in the Lock Up Prison Detention Center during one of our Chaplain Training Sessions. Isaiah 61 was radically illuminated as I sat through the Coroner’s presentation and as I heard the prison hallway doors open and close as we entered each cell block and each of the many segregated areas of the prison.
At the Sheriff Coroner’s they showed us very graphic photos of the impact of crime, murder, auto accidents, suicides, and etc has on the glorious bodies our Lord Jesus gave us, and then they took us into the back where they do autopsies and store deceased bodies - the smell of mayhem, violence, and of death is overwhelming.
It was such a graphic in my face reminder to stop texting, using my cell phone, and speeding while driving – to slow down and pay attention to the road and enjoy my ride to each destination of the day.
At the Detention Prison Center they showed us the entire prison grounds inclusive of the occupied cells - I saw in each cell the barren desert land of the hearts of our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, father and mothers.
As I looked at a short distance into the faces and eyes of those behind the prison bars it was such an overwhelming reminder from our Lord to my heart to slow down during my day when He and I are out in the world together and of His desire for me to be aware of and attentive to the hearts around me – He reminded me that maybe our precious Jesus will compel me to say hello, or smile, or give a hug to a stranger’s heart, or bless us with a sweet conversation with those who are contemplating suicide or whose hearts are parched of love - He reminded me of the truth that our simple acts of kindness bring forth the flow of our Lord’s living waters of love unto the barren parched land of a heart, bringing His drink of sweet waters to a heart which is so thirsty for love.
I heard in the Spirit our Father say over me and Jesus’ Church:
"Slow Down & Enjoy the Intimacy of Jesus’ heart & the hearts of those I bring into your daily path."
Who knows what He will do for ours and their hearts along our journey of each day – at least we can count on that we will walk away filled and consumed by and with His joy of LOVE over sweet fellowship amongst hearts; for sure we will, indeed…
Jesus’ passion for the captives & broken-hearted is tangibly demonstrated & revealed in Isaiah 61; and His passion reigns as tangible today as when He was walking on earth amongst the living then. He invites us today and each day we live on earth to continue His mission and to partake in His passion to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). It is a priceless gift and privilege to participate with Him in His radical heart of love to touch each heart on earth with the good news of His Hope, Salvation, Love, and Redemption!
Jesus says in Isaiah 61:
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
And they shall rebuild the old ruins,
They shall raise up the former desolations,
And they shall repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.
Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,
And the sons of the foreigner
Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
But you shall be named the priests of the Lord,
They shall call you the servants of our God.
You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles,
And in their glory you shall boast.
Instead of your shame you shall have double honor,
And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.
Therefore in their land they shall possess double;
Everlasting joy shall be theirs.
“For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery for burnt offering;
I will direct their work in truth,
And will make with them an everlasting covenant.
Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles,
And their offspring among the people.
All who see them shall acknowledge them,
That they are the posterity whom the Lord has blessed.”
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
My soul shall be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its bud,
As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,
So the Lord God will cause righteousness & praise to spring forth before all the nations.”