YOUR HOUSEHOLD
Suggested Reading: Acts 16
(click scripture link to read online)
This is the traditional place where Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Acts 16:30-31
And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Firstly, consider the circumcision of Timothy. The mission field for Paul and his co-workers was primarily the Jewish people. As a trained Rabbi, Paul knew how to perform a circumcision. Why go through this painful procedure? The answer is that it was necessary to remove any excuses that Jews might use for not believing in Jesus. Secondly, the jailer was probably a Gentile. When the earthquake released the prisoners (evidence of an earthquake is seen in Reynold’s photo above), the jailer was about to kill himself because an escape would guarantee his execution anyway. With the question of our key verse, it’s unlikely that the warden was asking about the path to eternal life. It probably had to do with his impending execution by the authorities. Nevertheless, the Apostles did not miss an opportunity to tell a lost man about being saved from a worse fate than physical death. We must, as Paul and Silas did, take every opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus. Let us look for that opening for witness today.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I confess I’ve often made the way of Salvation more complicated than it is. Help me, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to keep it simple, direct, and with the assurance of my own Salvation clearly in mind. In Your Saving Name I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
A medical doctor said to me as I was witnessing to him, “I do believe. I believe that Jesus died for my sins, but I’m no different as a result.” I believe God gave me a reply as follows: “I believe you are a good doctor, but I don’t believe in you.” His response was, “What do you mean?” “Just this,” I said, “I’ve never had to trust you to save my life. I’ve never been on an operating table knowing that you would perform surgery on me. I’ve never had to believe IN you. I only believe ABOUT you.” It was like a light going on in his face and he prayed something like this: “Lord Jesus I realize that I’ve been believing ABOUT You, but from now on I’m going to believe IN You. I put my entire life into Your hands. Operate on me. Remove my sin. Amen!” He was a new man from that point forward. He was saved from eternal death, and his household also believed and was saved to eternal life.
Yours for a clear, convincing witness for Christ at every opportunity,
David
P.S. Below is a photo of the traditional location where Paul baptized Lydia in Philippi, as recorded in today’s Bible reading.
David, you’ve hit the nail on the head! Many Many have believed ‘about’ Jesus, primarily because they’ve heard stories at Christmas and Easter ‘about’ Jesus. Everybody in North America probably has a general knowledge ‘about’ Jesus but few believe ‘in’ or ‘upon’ Jesus for their eternal salvation. I believe this same analogy could be made about the church in general today, sad statement but I true one, I’m sure. The same analogy could be made of the jailer in our in our reading today. He probably couldn’t escape the sound of the hymns that Paul & Timothy were singing praises to the Lord only feet away in prison. The jailer couldn’t escape their witness, he had to be posted in that spot and probably listened ‘about’ Jesus through these hymns throughout the night. But it wasn’t until he had a real life saving need that he was willing to believe ‘in’ Jesus; in that moment of his life’s greatest need, when he thought he would be confronting death, he believed. Here’s for believing all ‘about’ Jesus … but even more importantly, believing ‘IN’ Jesus for this life and for the life beyond. Amen!!
Amen to that!!!
Mr Mainse,
Thank you for your profound teachings in your daily blog, especially todays’.
God Bless You 🙂
Believing in Jesus,
Diane 🙂
Goodmorning David
I agree with both of you and Scott there are so many who think its just a
story every year and feel like they have to go to church out of obligation
believing in Him is the most important than anything else everyday
I never had the opportunity to ask someone to come to Christ maybe
I am to shy to do it and want to stay in my shell so to speak.
God Bless You
Lianne Hogg
David, you set a clear contrast between believing about, verses believing in. It requires a personal commitment and trust to believe wholeheartedly in Christ.
On a lesser note, it is interesting in this chapter, how Paul and Silas go with the Philippian Jailer to his house, yet never seem to leave the prison. At the end of the chapter, they go out of the prison to go to enter the House of Lydia. I wonder if the Jailers house was in the confines of the prison? I also wonder if the other prisoners chose not to escape, as in vs.28 the jailer was told not to do himself harm, as we are all here? However, this did present a perfect opportunity to share the message of Christ to he and his household.
Yes, David, I agree. There is so much to this scripture, and a commentary explains some of the points you have noted very well.
Found this one that is excellent:
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/285231_in-depth-bible-study-notes-for-acts-1616-40
Thanks, Beverlee. This commentary puts forth that the Jailers home was probably attached to the prison. Therefore, Paul and Silas were still in his custody. It makes sense, as they were later released from custody at the end of Chapter 16. Have a great day!
I so agree. So many people know about Jesus but don’t know Him personally. As what was said to believe in Him takes a personal commitment, a daily surrendering to His will. I am so grateful for the many comments as they have inspired me and reinforced the facts about Jesus. Thankyou so much to those who write in. Always praying for you David.
I look forward to your blog every day, I had to go back and read the ones you put on while ‘we’ were in Israel. Now reading Acts the places and the words really come to life because I was in those places last month. Thanks you so much…………Claire
Thankyou !
Another thought provoking blog David. Thank you! I have many family members who believe ‘about’, and seem to think that is enough. I continue to pray they will soon believe ‘in’. So many in todays society seem to be in this ‘head knowledge’ mindset. May the Holy Spirit bring conviction and enlightenment that will move such believing ‘about’ down to the heart so there is belief ‘in’ Jesus.
Thanks again for your enlightening blog. This is very special account as I was in Philippi last year and visited both of those places in the photos. Good work, Reynold. Agree with the comments too, and looked up the extra information, Beverlee and also found it enlightening. Thanks! Paul and Silas’ praying and singing must have worked on this jailor’s heart at this urgent time. Yes, believing in means putting our whole trust in, not just about Him. Thanks, David.
What a beautiful place to be baptized. What a beautiful photograph of that place! Thank you for the photos as they make this reading come alive for me!
Thank the Lord for this daily blog!
Thank the Lord for David.
Greatly blessed we all are for the daily blog
Let our intimate relationship with Jesus transpire in every thing that we do, every one we meet,
Thank you Jesus!…Amen
Acts 16 is fascinating, The first church in Europe was the result of Prison Ministry. Do we dare say that the first person to be baptized was a lady, Lydia ?
What is so amazing what praising can do ? Exactly how Jesus stated His Mission: The Spirit has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are bruised. Luke 4:18 It is such a challenge for us what to do when we are “in a bind” or severely restricted in our movements. Pray and praise as Paul and Silas did. Wow. !!!
Thank you David. I agree with all. Thank you Jesus!