Sunday, May 19, 2013

By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo

Just GET ON the Bus

John 8:36, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Hurricane Katrina hit the summer of my first year working full-time at the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office. My job assignment was to photograph and video the aftermath.

Although Lafourche Parish received some damage, it was nothing compared to the devastation in our neighboring parishes. So, after meeting the needs of our parish, our Sheriff was adamant that we would help our neighbors.

We were one of the first parishes for New Orleans residents to find shelter and dry ground. I will never forget the image of this broken down 18-wheeler that our officers discovered on the side of Highway 90 in Raceland. When opened, it was filled with people including the elderly, disabled and babies. Our officers transported them to safety. Our hearts broke as they began to tell their stories. One woman told us that she didn't even know the baby she was holding. The baby's mother handed this stranger her child in hopes that at least her baby would survive. There was no room for her on the vehicle.

At that point, the Sheriff commandeered busses in our parish to go to New Orleans and rescue as many people as possible. He himself drove a bus. We began to walk the streets of downtown New Orleans offering rides-explaining that it would be days before food and water would arrive.

Shockingly, several homeless men refused to be rescued because they knew alcohol and drugs were not allowed in shelters. We all begged-each with a different approach.

I am reminded of the great truth in Romans 6:16, "Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living."

Sadly, these men's addictions were greater than their desire for a better life. Likewise, there are times in life that we choose to obey sin, addiction, and momentary pleasures rather than obeying God and doing what we KNOW is right - what we know will lead to a long, healthy and happy life.

I challenge you today to evaluate whether there are addictions or habits in your life - whether little or big - that keep you from fulfilling God's fullness for your life. If so, formulate a plan TODAY to break those addictions. Seek Godly counsel and accountability partners immediately!

Dear Lord, I pray in accordance to Isaiah 58:6 that You would break every chain in my life and the lives of those I love.

I also thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.