路易斯·羅德里格斯（Luis Rodriguez）16歲時就曾因販毒而入獄，後來又因謀殺未遂而再度被捕，可能會被判終身監禁。但在他罪孽深重的處境中，上帝向他說話了。在獄中，年輕的路易斯想起兒時母親如何按時帶他去教會，他感受到上帝正觸動他的心。路易斯最後認罪悔改，歸向耶穌。

使徒行傳記載一個名叫掃羅（也叫保羅）的猶太教狂熱分子，他恐嚇脅迫耶穌的門徒，要殺害他們（使徒行傳9章1節）。有證據顯示，他就像是幫派領袖，也是殺害司提反的那群暴徒中的一員（7章58節）。但上帝向罪孽深重的掃羅說話──真的說話。掃羅在前往大馬士革的路上，被強光照瞎了眼，耶穌對他說：「你為什麼逼迫我？」掃羅問：「主啊，祢是誰？」（9章4-5節）就這樣，掃羅歸向了這位他曾逼迫的耶穌，開啟他新的生活。

羅德里格斯信主後繼續服刑，後來獲得假釋出獄。此後，他開始服事上帝，投身於美國與中美洲的監獄事工。

即使我們罪孽深重，上帝也能把我們從罪惡的深谷救贖出來。祂能觸動我們的心，向我們這些充滿罪惡的人說話。也許，現在正是你我認罪悔改、歸向耶穌的時候。

At age sixteen, Luis Rodriguez had already been in jail for selling crack. But now, arrested for attempted murder, he was in prison again—looking at a life sentence. But God spoke into his guilty circumstances. Behind bars, young Luis remembered his early years when his mother had faithfully taken him to church. He now felt God tugging at his heart. Luis eventually repented of his sins and came to Jesus.

In the book of Acts, we meet a zealous Jewish man named Saul, who was also called Paul. He was guilty of aggravated assault on believers in Jesus and had murder in his heart (Acts 9:1). There’s evidence he was a kind of gang leader, and part of the mob at the execution of Stephen (7:58). But God spoke into Saul’s guilty circumstances—literally. On the street leading into Damascus, Saul was blinded by a light, and Jesus said to him, “Why do you persecute me?” (9:4). Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” (v. 5), and that was the beginning of his new life. He came to Jesus.

Luis Rodriguez served time but eventually was granted parole. Since then, he’s served God, devoting his life to prison ministry in the United States and Central America.

God specializes in redeeming the worst of us. He tugs at our hearts and speaks into our guilt-drenched lives. Maybe it’s time we repent of our sins and come to Jesus.