Guatemala is beautiful.
I am surrounded by beautiful mountain sunsets.
Beautiful children walking around the streets.
Community and brokenness that is beautiful.
But, the most beautiful thing I have experienced happened last Friday.
I was strumming my guitar, singing “oh, how he loves us.”
And as tears were streaming down my face,
my eyes were fixed on the eyes of 40 men.
Their eyes revealing pain. suffering. confusion. anger.
I could FEEL it all.
In that moment, I could feel all of the heaviness they were carrying.
I could feel the bondage. The misery. The past they were holding onto.
I was in a prison.
Looking into the eyes of 40 inmates who needed Jesus.
But not once did I view these men as inmates, some were my brothers, some were lost children who needed to feel Christ’s love.
They needed to be loved and not judged.
They needed to know that even though they were physically bound by high walls, cells, barbed wire, and chains— they could be FREE men.
They needed the freedom of Christ.
Jake preached with so much power. The Holy Spirit was speaking through him.
I cried the ENTIRE time.
I wanted these men to know they are FREE.
Innocent or guilty- it doesn’t matter…
There is forgiveness, mercy, and redemption through Christ Jesus.
I had the privilege of watching 7 grown men fall to their knees and pray out to God.
7 men chose Jesus to break their chains they were being bound by.
7 men step into freedom.
It was beautiful.
It was hard to look around and see that these men were physically bound to high walls and barbed wire.
It was harder to think about all the people who freely walk down the street and are bound by the things of the world. [Money. Lust. Relationships. Drugs. Addictions.]
We have all of the freedom in the world; yet, we still choose to let our chains keep us from walking in the freedom that Christ has offered us.
What I learned that day was to not take freedom for granted.
Yes, it is what we have always known.
But it is not a right, it’s a privilege.
And it’s a gift from God.
So as you physically walk in freedom, choose freedom in Christ.
THAT is what’s beautiful.
