Today’s Reading: Job 11; Job 12; Acts 15; Acts 16
Scripture: Acts 16:29-34
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.
Observation: I just love this story. Paul and Silas singing hymns in the dungeon. God sends an earthquake. The cells spring open. The jailer panics and is going to kill himself. Then we have the story above. What I love about this is the joy of this jailer because he and his whole family "had come to believe in God." This simple change, coming to believe in God, is the most profound transformation that can happen in a person's life. And when it comes, it brings such a joy and light to every life that embraces it.
Application: People need the Lord. There are people all around us who live in dull gray existence -- the daily grind, the rat race, the routine -- who need to see the Light of life, Jesus Christ, and to believe in Him and receive the forgiveness of their sins and everlasting life. Like the little boy in The Sixth Sense, you and I see dead people who don't know that they are dead. And we have the antidote for the moral and spiritual disease that killed them. We have Jesus, Who triumphed over sin and death, and Who led captivity captive into heaven. And He still sets the captives free today. Let's do everything we can to let our light shine so people in darkness and see the light and come out of the darkness.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the amazing transformational joy You bring into the life and home of every person who receives You as Savior and Lord. Help us to be bearers of Your light and to win many souls. We want to see hell empty and heaven full.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
1 comment:
Yes! There is nothing more wonderful than the transformation and joy knowing Jesus brings into a life. Every life still has trouble and pain (which I think we focus on too much sometimes) but with Jesus there's a context for the trouble that brings about positive transformation and He just plain makes people happy!
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