Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
August 12, 2023
Acts of the Apostles 16:25-32
25 Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 All at once there was such a violent earthquake that it shook the prison’s foundations. The doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer awoke and saw the open doors of the prison, he thought the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted loudly, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here!” 29 The jailer called for some lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He led them outside and asked, “Honorable masters, what must I do to be rescued?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your entire household.” 32 They spoke the Lord’s word to him and everyone else in his house.
Good Morning; The time is now for those who believe!
Imagine the unimaginable! What do we do when we find ourselves, like Paul and Silas, sitting in a mess that we didn’t expect? Indeed, we might yell, scream, or even cry. We might sit and do nothing in our depression. The optimists among us would likely begin planning a way forward to move past the mess. How many of us would sit and pray and sing praise songs to God?
Paul and Silas were unjustly imprisoned because Paul had removed a demon from a woman. As was typical of this time, after being brought before the Magistrate, they were stripped and severely beaten before being chained in the jail cell. In response to their mistreatment, they did not complain to the guard. No! They sang praise and prayed to God. Unimaginable! During the night, an extreme earthquake causes their chains to be broken. Unimaginable! They could have run away, but they did not. Unimaginable! They protected their guard, who asked to be rescued from his sin, by staying until morning. Paul granted the guard and his entire household salvation through the guard’s proclamation of belief in Christ. Unimaginable!
Truly, this seems like a story that a Hollywood writer would make up for the audience's entertainment. It would be hard to imagine ourselves acting as Paul and Silas in such an awful situation. In this desperate moment, they took time to protect and convert the guard who had chained them. So many today live in a me-first reality that it is hard to imagine a world where the needs of others are put first in our minds. May we find peace and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us into such strong believers.
Loving God, We thank you! We are weak! Please help us find the strength to believe that you will save us no matter how desperate our situation is. We see so many examples of evil. Help us be the light that others need to find Christ. Thank you! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Each day brings me opportunities to remind someone of God’s love.
Are we willing to put the needs of others before our own? Pastor Liz
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