Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
Leviticus 10; Leviticus 11; Leviticus 12; Acts 16
“Sirs,
What Must I Do
To Be Saved?”
Scripture
22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he 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, along with everyone in your household.”
32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household.
Observation
One
of my favorite scriptures in the Bible is this story found in Acts 16! Paul and
Silas had just been illegally stripped and beaten and yet when the officials
ordered this done to them they did not protest. After they were beaten they
were thrown into the darkest and most secure part of the dungeon. Their feet
were clamped in stocks.
Then
at midnight Paul and Silas began to sing and pray. The other prisoners were
listening. Then all of Heaven broke loose; there was a massive earthquake and
the chains broke off of every prisoner and all of the doors of the prison flew
open and yet not prisoner moved. The jailor woke up and assumed all the
prisoners had escaped and started to kill himself. Paul shouted, “Stop! Don’t
kill yourself! We are all still here!”
Can
you visualize this scene in your mind? Just think about what must have been
going through this jailor’s mind! Paul and Silas were in that jail for only one
reason and that was so the jailor and his family could be saved. Paul and Silas
suffered being stripped and beaten so a jailor could meet Jesus.
Are
we willing to suffer so that others can be drawn closer to Jesus? In the midst
of our suffering will we sing and pray?
Application
I will pray for the strength to be like Paul and Silas.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, this is an amazing story of Your love.
The jailor didn’t deserve Your love and yet You loved him. I don’t deserve Your
love and yet You love me. Help us to be Your witnesses during the good times
and during the times of struggle. Help others see Jesus in us.
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