YOUR HOUSEHOLD
Today’s Reading: Acts 16
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
This is the traditional place where Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi. Evidence of an earthquake is obvious.
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, whose mother was Jewish but probably not his father. 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 only stream flowing through ancient Philippi. Paul baptized Lydia in this river as recorded in today’s Bible reading.
Thankful for David’s message, prayer and Reynold’s photo, verifying the place of Lydia’s baptism by Paul. Such promising scripture in Acts 16. Witnessing our faith in God to others, our chains break free, and so do theirs. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them” (vs. 25). Thank you Heavenly Father. Thank You, Lord Jesus, that we are called by You to witness and testify for Your sacrifice and glory. Wishing all saints a blessed day. Amen.
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
Psalm 96:9 ESV
No Other Name [Official Lyric Video] – Hillsong Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wku9OphQ7JE
Interesting pictures today – I have never been to Israel and I really appreciate seeing the places where events happened. Thanks Reynold for all the time & work you put into your craft. Thanks again for the worship music Beverlee. Have a wonderful & safe from the virus day all.
I love that Doreen–safe from the virus day! 💖
Am standing on the promise in the key verse for the salvation of my family. Thank you Lord and also for the privilege of seeing both of these places and having my photo taken by them. Appreciate David’s message and prayer. Is a quiet day here and haven’t got the snow forecast yet; sure shortens the winter. Keep safe.
I am with you on that one, Ger, for the salvation of my family. Amen. 💖
Thank You, Father, for this Your day. Have Your way in all this world You made, and in the lives of all Your people. May all Your people be good and faithful servants of Yours, and may Your Word go out freely and clearly throughout this World, accomplishing Your purposes wherever it goes, in Jesus’s greatest-of-all name, amen
Amen and amen, Rob. Such a beautiful prayer!
Amen Rob.
Amen!
From: Robin Stephen Aldrich
A Jailer’s Story – based on Acts, Chapter 16
I was told in strict fashion to ensure that these Jews
be watched, and kept guarded,
or my head I would lose !
They’d offended their brothers, and disrupted the City.
Who cares? I don’t!
From me, there’s no pity !
I’m paid for my duty and their wounds I ignore.
So WHY the praying and singing?
They’re chained to the floor !
One is named Silas and the other is Paul
They are preachers or scribes
or much worse, I recall.
They’ve broken the laws
and I’m sure I won’t weep
for their plight, this dark night.
… Just let me have sleep !
Nothing’s New in this world,
There’s no Hope to employ.
Come daybreak… real mourning
will replace their false joy !
All our lives are so hopeless,
as we groan in life’s Battle.
Whether free men or slaves,
we’ll ALL die, like cattle !
It’s now Midnight, and I thought
I felt a great shaking…
So we cried , as the earth
opened up with much quaking.
“ All is lost “, I cried out,
for I knew I must die
by my own hand,
if the prisoners
could face a free sky !
Their shackles had dropped off;
their cell doors had sprung.
I thought that those prisoners
must be gone.. every one !
A light was soon brought… every prisoner was there !’
I despaired of my own life,
but I heard Paul declare
Do yourself no great harm
.. put your sword down… don’t fear.
You can see for yourself
we all are still here !
A Light shone within me
like never before.
I knelt down in trembling,
my face to the floor.
“I’m a dead man, and Sirs
this life is depraved !
Tell me now what to do Sirs,
so that I may be saved !
”They then said with one voice,’
It’s Jesus, you see …Whom YOU must Believe in
to be REALLY set free !
“We proceeded to my house.
I bathed their sore stripes.
( my family soon Baptized
from Death, into Life ! )
Not only did Jesus
give Freedom and Grace,,
Philippi released them;
no charge did they face !
Where once I’d intended
to fall on my knife
.… I NOW SHARE … WITH YOU SIR …
MY GOD-GIVEN… NEW LIFE !
Really like that poem Robin.