I’ve been in jail many times. I spent a year and a half doing jail ministry in the early 90s. I went in every Sunday afternoon and sang, spoke and prayed for the inmates. Jesus said that if we visit those in prison, we are visiting Him. God cares about people who are imprisoned, constrained, bound, locked up, confined or enslaved by any number of restraints.
Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. There are many of us who are enslaved by things that no one can see from the outside. We are restricted to a way of life that controls us. God is not in control of our lives. We are not even in control. The enemy is controlling us. He’s leading us by our desires and our weaknesses. But there is a rescuer!
We all know Jesus as our Savior, but do you know that His nature is to save? He will save you from hell but He will also save you from the circumstance, habit, weakness or relentless thought that keeps you cuffed to your sins.
Paul and Silas were in prison, singing and praising God at midnight when God shook the place and the doors opened and their chains fell off. You may feel as if you are in a type of prison. But, God can shake you in a way that will cause your chains to come off as well. Jesus has a way of doing that. And when the Son sets you free, you are really free!