“At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.” Acts 16:33.
Soon after the Philippian jailor gave his life to Jesus, he was washing the wounds of Paul and Silas. It seems that this act of service came out of gratitude that the jailer experienced for having been saved from certain death at the hands of his authorities. It is interesting that the first thing the jailer does after becoming a follower of Jesus is to care for Paul’s and Silas’ wounds. He immediately started serving.
When I committed to following Jesus, my first response was not to serve. It wasn’t my second or third thought, either. I was still the selfish, me-oriented person I was before making this commitment. Eventually, I started doing things that could be considered service, but I was still trying to get personal recognition. “What a great guy!” “He is such a hard worker!” “He sure has a giving heart!” These were comments that I heard that just fed my ego. Over the next several years, I went through a step-by-step change, having several “ah-ha” moments. I wish that I could say that I was transformed, like the Philippian jailer, in a moment into a grateful servant of Jesus, but that just isn’t my story. And I still struggle to serve without getting any recognition. There is part of me that still craves it. I hope that one day I can say, as Jesus said, that I am here to serve; not be served.
Questions to consider: What is your attitude toward serving? In what areas do you struggle in serving? In other words, are there some areas that you have a more difficult time serving in? What does God have you doing in service to Him?
Prayer: Father, please help me to continue to be transformed into a person who seeks to serve You with all of my heart? Help me to obey You in Your call to serve, no matter what the area. Amen.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
February 17, 2011 - John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27.
Jesus makes this amazing statement to His disciples just hours before their world is turned upside down by Jesus’ arrest, trial, and execution. Jesus conveys His peace on His disciples, fully knowing that they will need every strand of peace possible to make it through this painful time. Please remember that Jesus never made flippant comments, as we do – when He gave them His peace, He really gave them His peace. This wasn’t a peace of appeasement or a peace at any cost. It was more like a peace that helps a person sustain and persevere through the storms of life, no matter how difficult.
It is very comforting to know of Jesus’ enduring presence with me through His Holy Spirit. I get myself all worked up with many of the problems of life, and I find that I am not focusing on His presence and on His peace with and in me. It is when I settle down, get quiet, and refocus that I realize the peace and presence of Jesus that has been with me through the whole troubling time. When I look at unsettling events around the world; when I hear all the problems in our country; when I see terrible things in our city, it is vital that I cling to these words of peace from Jesus. It is a commandment, not a suggestion that we not let our hearts be troubled or afraid. We are to intentionally decide to quiet down, receive His peace, and allow His Spirit to have His way.
Questions to consider: What causes you to lose the peace of God in your life? What can be done to get His peace back? How are you doing right now? Could you use His peace in your life right now?
Prayer: Father, thank You for giving us a peace that is different from what the world attempts to give us. Please help us to lay our troubles, fears, and anxieties down at Your feet and receive Your peace. Amen.
Jesus makes this amazing statement to His disciples just hours before their world is turned upside down by Jesus’ arrest, trial, and execution. Jesus conveys His peace on His disciples, fully knowing that they will need every strand of peace possible to make it through this painful time. Please remember that Jesus never made flippant comments, as we do – when He gave them His peace, He really gave them His peace. This wasn’t a peace of appeasement or a peace at any cost. It was more like a peace that helps a person sustain and persevere through the storms of life, no matter how difficult.
It is very comforting to know of Jesus’ enduring presence with me through His Holy Spirit. I get myself all worked up with many of the problems of life, and I find that I am not focusing on His presence and on His peace with and in me. It is when I settle down, get quiet, and refocus that I realize the peace and presence of Jesus that has been with me through the whole troubling time. When I look at unsettling events around the world; when I hear all the problems in our country; when I see terrible things in our city, it is vital that I cling to these words of peace from Jesus. It is a commandment, not a suggestion that we not let our hearts be troubled or afraid. We are to intentionally decide to quiet down, receive His peace, and allow His Spirit to have His way.
Questions to consider: What causes you to lose the peace of God in your life? What can be done to get His peace back? How are you doing right now? Could you use His peace in your life right now?
Prayer: Father, thank You for giving us a peace that is different from what the world attempts to give us. Please help us to lay our troubles, fears, and anxieties down at Your feet and receive Your peace. Amen.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
February 10, 2011 - Acts 16:29-30
“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’” Acts 16:29-30.
The earthquake that struck the jail where Paul, Silas, and the other prisoners were had opened all the cell doors, releasing them from their shackles. Upon discovering this, the jailer, thinking that the prisoners had escaped, was about to kill himself. From the darkness of the cells, Paul yelled out to the jailer to not harm himself. Grateful for hearing Paul cry out, the jailer got a torch and hurried into where Paul was and, upon arriving, fell at his feet. The jailer was so affected by having been so close to death, that he was willing to do whatever was necessary to live his life for the God of Paul and Silas.
This was a very dramatic, life-changing moment in the life of this jailer. I don’t think I’ve had anything even close to being this dramatic, yet I know that I’ve had some life-changing moments. Some were troubling, such as my parents’ divorce, and some were magical, such as the moment I met my wife, as well as the birth of each of our children. One moment that stands out in my memory happened many years ago. It was late one December night when I was asking more questions about Jesus than my friend Skip cared to answer. He was tired and I persisted in my inquisition. Finally, Skip put the question to me: Was I ready to follow Jesus? I said “Yes” and my life has never been the same since.
Questions to consider: What life-changing moments have you had? What have those moments meant to you? How have they changed your life?
Prayer: Father, looking back on my life, I see how You have given me moments that were important markers in my life. I am so thankful to You for those moments. Help me to have eyes to see those markers as I continue to walk with You. Amen.
The earthquake that struck the jail where Paul, Silas, and the other prisoners were had opened all the cell doors, releasing them from their shackles. Upon discovering this, the jailer, thinking that the prisoners had escaped, was about to kill himself. From the darkness of the cells, Paul yelled out to the jailer to not harm himself. Grateful for hearing Paul cry out, the jailer got a torch and hurried into where Paul was and, upon arriving, fell at his feet. The jailer was so affected by having been so close to death, that he was willing to do whatever was necessary to live his life for the God of Paul and Silas.
This was a very dramatic, life-changing moment in the life of this jailer. I don’t think I’ve had anything even close to being this dramatic, yet I know that I’ve had some life-changing moments. Some were troubling, such as my parents’ divorce, and some were magical, such as the moment I met my wife, as well as the birth of each of our children. One moment that stands out in my memory happened many years ago. It was late one December night when I was asking more questions about Jesus than my friend Skip cared to answer. He was tired and I persisted in my inquisition. Finally, Skip put the question to me: Was I ready to follow Jesus? I said “Yes” and my life has never been the same since.
Questions to consider: What life-changing moments have you had? What have those moments meant to you? How have they changed your life?
Prayer: Father, looking back on my life, I see how You have given me moments that were important markers in my life. I am so thankful to You for those moments. Help me to have eyes to see those markers as I continue to walk with You. Amen.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
February 3, 2011 - Acts 16:28
“But Paul shouted, ‘Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!’” Acts 16:28.
While in a Philippian jail, Paul and Silas, as well as the other prisoners, were released from their cells by an earthquake. Upon discovering that all the prison doors were open and all the prisoners most likely had escaped, the jailer was going to kill himself. This was going to happen because the jailer’s authorities would have held him responsible for the prisoners escape and would have certainly had the jailer put to death. Knowing that this was the case, Paul shouted to the jailer that none of the prisoners had escaped. All of this happened in the dark, as there was no light in the jail. Paul kept his head about him in the midst of very stressful circumstances to the point of saving the jailer’s life at just the right time.
In reflection, I thought about how Paul handled this very stressful situation in his life. Remember all the circumstances that he and Silas found themselves in? I, then, thought about how far away I am from handling this kind of stress, as well as having as clear a mind as Paul had under stress. Paul and Silas had just prior to the earthquake been praying and singing songs of praise to God. This connection must not have been merely a religious thing to them. It must have been a real lifeline for them, connecting them to a God who loved them and cared about their circumstances. And they absolutely needed this connection. I believe that this was the only way that Paul and Silas could have handled the extreme stresses they faced.
Questions to consider: How do you handle stressful situations? Do you find yourself having genuine connection with God through prayer or singing, or do you get all stressed out and tense up? How can you begin to handle stressful situations in a more clear-minded manner? Is there any action step that you can take in your connection with God?
Prayer: Father, help me to connect with You in such a deep, life-giving way that it affects the way that I handle stressful situations. Amen.
While in a Philippian jail, Paul and Silas, as well as the other prisoners, were released from their cells by an earthquake. Upon discovering that all the prison doors were open and all the prisoners most likely had escaped, the jailer was going to kill himself. This was going to happen because the jailer’s authorities would have held him responsible for the prisoners escape and would have certainly had the jailer put to death. Knowing that this was the case, Paul shouted to the jailer that none of the prisoners had escaped. All of this happened in the dark, as there was no light in the jail. Paul kept his head about him in the midst of very stressful circumstances to the point of saving the jailer’s life at just the right time.
In reflection, I thought about how Paul handled this very stressful situation in his life. Remember all the circumstances that he and Silas found themselves in? I, then, thought about how far away I am from handling this kind of stress, as well as having as clear a mind as Paul had under stress. Paul and Silas had just prior to the earthquake been praying and singing songs of praise to God. This connection must not have been merely a religious thing to them. It must have been a real lifeline for them, connecting them to a God who loved them and cared about their circumstances. And they absolutely needed this connection. I believe that this was the only way that Paul and Silas could have handled the extreme stresses they faced.
Questions to consider: How do you handle stressful situations? Do you find yourself having genuine connection with God through prayer or singing, or do you get all stressed out and tense up? How can you begin to handle stressful situations in a more clear-minded manner? Is there any action step that you can take in your connection with God?
Prayer: Father, help me to connect with You in such a deep, life-giving way that it affects the way that I handle stressful situations. Amen.
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