I was in prison. 

I mentioned in one of my previous posts that I attend a 12-Step group every week (see Part 82). It’s a virtual meeting, using Zoom, and is specifically for men with pornography challenges. 

I was asked why I attend this particular group since I don’t struggle with pornography addiction, myself. 

Years ago, I was reading in Matthew where Jesus tells about the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. 

For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (Matthew 25:35-36)

The very last phrase struck me. “I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” I felt a prompting to come unto people who are in prison. I contacted one of my church leaders to see what opportunities there are to support those who are incarcerated. He said he would check on it. 

Apparently, you can’t just show up at a jail and go in and visit people. He started the process of going through the red tape, but my request got lost somewhere along the way. So I never got permission to help out in that way. 

A little later I was reading in the scriptures about those who are “led away captive” by the enemy. And I realized that captivity isn’t just brick and mortar. I can become a prisoner to anything that limits my agency. And that’s just what an addiction does. If I can’t say “no” to a behavior or substance or compulsion, then I’m not truly free. 

Although I wanted to visit others in prison, I was visited in some of my prisons. Others facilitated my liberation by coming to me and giving me light and truth. And the truth makes me free. So one reason I attend the 12-Step group is to receive freedom from, and freedom for. 

When Jesus first announced himself to those in Nazareth as the Anointed One, He taught what some of his purposes are: 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. (Luke 4:18) 

I’m grateful that, in so many ways, He provides deliverance to the captives. 

To be continued . . . with Part 89