Fallen Short

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Monday morning, 7 November, 2022, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. 

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
Romans 3:23

I remember, a few years ago, going to the Pretoria Central Prison. I have been to prisons all over the world - I have been to an under-21 prison, in Scotland. I have been to a maximum security prison in New Zealand, where I have seen some of the biggest men in my life, just pumping iron all day long. I have been to prisons in Northern Ireland, going through those security gates one after another is quite daunting. Walking past the gallows where the guilty were marched to, to be hung. They tell me they would sing hymns on their way to the gallows while being marched to their end. When I went to Pretoria Maximum Security Prison, I heard a male choir sing for us before I addressed the inmates, about fifty strong. All dressed in their orange overalls, serving time for things they had done wrong.  

I have had the privilege of listening to some of the top music groups in the world but rarely, very rarely, have I been brought to tears by their singing like I was when I heard these inmates singing with no accompaniment of any musical instruments. It was like the Lord visited us. When I got up to speak, the Lord gave me such a love for these men who were in prison. Some for life, they had made mistakes but they were paying the price - Some had made some very bad ones, nevertheless they were in jail and serving their sentences. They looked at me with their arms crossed, some looking quite angry. I said to them, “Men, the only difference between you and me is that you have got caught, I never got caught." Straightaway they put their arms down, they relaxed and they started to identify with me. Then we felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, tangibly, come down upon us .

I want to say to you today that Jesus says, if you look at a man with hatred in your heart, you have committed murder. If you look at a woman with lust in your heart, you have committed adultery. Therefore, all of us are guilty - all of us have fallen short of the glory of God, so we need to extend more grace and more mercy on those who have made mistakes and who have fallen.

Go out today and love people, especially the unlovely and the Lord will honour you for that. Jesus bless you and goodbye.