Jesus said to them, “Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” — Matthew 21:31

I was at a “feed the homeless” type deal recently. I sat with people I didn’t think that most people sitting in church buildings on Sunday morning would want in there. In fact, one former prison inmate told me of a time when he begged for someone inside the church building to just sit with him and pray for a while . . . to speak life into him. Not one person would do it.

There was a piano, an acoustic guitar, and a singer singing songs to the Lord. This former prisoner got up to sing a song that he wrote in jail. He talked of how he read the Bible to some of the other inmates over the course of 15 months. He also said he would sing to them. As he sung, I imagined that big, booming voice bouncing off those prison walls. It had to feel as if the Holy Spirit had just entered the room. It had to produce so much repentance just through that voice begging God to intervene. I’d never heard anything like it.

I recorded it. I asked him if I could share it. He said yes. Then a few minutes later, he said, “You know how the Israelites made decisions on their own sometimes without asking God first?” I said that I did. He said, “Well I just did that . . . Don’t release the video because I think God will use my songs, but not on any kind of media. The next move of God will be open air, outside, using nothing but His true people.”

How was I to argue with that?

As he talked, he had mercy for the dregs of society that many Christians have no mercy for. He talked of pedophiles being restored, rapists, murderers, and all sorts of abusers. He even said, most church people would just send them on to hell, but God loves ‘em and wants to restore ‘em and change their lives. He wants to be used by God . . . and he is being used by God.

I’m just telling you what I heard and saw. I’m sure glad I met him. If I had seen him outside of that event, I would’ve never guessed he was my brother in the Lord. I really would’ve never guessed that he had the power of the Holy Spirit like I haven’t felt in quite a while.

Lord, you showed me a man who just wants to bring glory to Your great Name. He simply wants others, ALL others, to know the salvation that You’ve shown him. Bless the work of his hands. Here I am living the most comfortable life. He’s been through the fire, Lord. Prepare us, Your people, to stand before You . . . in Jesus Name . . . Amen.