From: June 25, 2024
‘Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”’ (Acts 16:30-31 ESV).
The magistrate of the city of Philippi had Paul and Silas publicly beaten and thrown into prison. Around midnight as they prayed and sang hymns in their prison cell, the Lord sent an earthquake that caused the prison doors to fly open and their bonds to fall off. The jailor was afraid that the prisoners had escaped and was ready to take his own life, but Paul and Silas assured him that they were still there. The jailor was so relieved and amazed that he asked to hear their message of salvation. And that very night, he and his whole family believed in Jesus and were baptized.
The Lord often uses unusual means to reach hard to reach people. Surely the jailor was a man hardened by his job. It would be doubtful to see him coming out to hear Paul’s preaching. So the Lord sent Paul and Silas to him, not in a position of authority as preachers, but as beaten-up and falsely accused prisoners. Yet in their weakness, in their suffering, they prayed and sang hymns to God. And God not only set them free from prison, but used them to set the jailor and his household free from slavery to sin.
PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to keep our eyes on You when life gets hard. Help us always to pray and sing to You even when we are struggling. For we never know who is watching and listening that You want to set free and redeem. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: June 25, 2023
“Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous. Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you” (Psalm 143:1-2 NLT).
David prayed that the Lord would not put him on trial. For he was a sinner and knew that he would not be found innocent. So, he called on the Lord’s “unfailing love” (v.8) instead of His judgment. God’s “unfailing love” or chesed as it is in the Hebrew, is His covenantal love, it never ceases, nor lets go. It is wrapped up in the character of God, which is always good and kind. David knew he didn’t stand a chance in God’s courtroom, so called on God’s covenantal love.
Yet, one innocent man chose to stand before God as one accused in our place. He is the Son of David, Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. He stood before God’s judgment seat and the Lord “laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6). As a result, Christ “was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Rom. 4:25). “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
David’s prayer is answered. Those in Christ are not put on trial. For that would be double jeopardy. For the Lord Jesus was put on trial in our place. He stood in our place, taking our sin, separation and death upon Himself. And He offers His righteousness, Sonship, and eternal life to those who believe in Him.
PRAYER: Lord, thank You that we don’t have to appear before Your Judgment Seat. For no one could stand before You. Yet, in Christ, we are justified, made right with You. Now, help us to live as Your witnesses to a world far from You, so that sinners may be brought to salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: June 25, 2022
DAVID’S RESPONSE TO DEEP DEPRESSION
David prayed that the Lord would give a quick answer to his need. For he was in a deep depression. David despaired that God would either wait in answering or even worse, turn away from him. Depression can make even the most committed believer feel that God has forsaken them. Yet, David had learned to pray out his feelings of depression. He did not struggle alone, as depression tempts one to do. But David cried out to the Lord for help.
Those who struggle with depression attest that the pain to the soul is greater than any pain to the body. Charles Spurgeon, that great English preacher of the 19th century, had a life long struggle with depression. In one sermon he said, “You may be surrounded with all the comforts of life and yet be in wretchedness more gloomy than death if the spirits are depressed…Though we may still cling to the Cross, yet it is with a desperate grasp.”
Just as the most faithful believer can have a stomach ache, so they are subject to the occasional bout of depression. It is not a mark of little faith, but of being human. Yet in either physical, mental or emotional trouble, we can turn to the Lord for help.
PRAYER: Dear Father, there are times when even the most joyful among us are beset with a deep depression. Perhaps You allow us times like this to move us to even greater dependence on You. Yet, You are faithful to hear our heart’s cry to help and encourage us. And we await Your joy that comes in the morning. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: June 25, 2016
Luke, the human author of the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, included himself in the story of Paul’s journey to Philippi and his missionary work there. Although he never mentioned himself by name, he did change from his usual third person “they,” to the first person “we.” There are three “we” sections in Acts: 16:10-18, 20:4-21:19, and 27:1-28:30. Apparently, Luke traveled with Paul, Silas and Timothy from Troas to Philippi and then remained in Philippi after they left. Most of Luke’s writing in both Luke and Acts were from his interviews of eye witnesses and of his “orderly account” (Luke 1:3) of the same. Yet, in a few instances, Luke was himself an eyewitness. Luke, the “beloved physician,” as Paul called him (Col. 4:14), was too modest to even sign his name to his writings. Yet, nearly one third of our New Testament would be missing without his obedience to the Spirit’s inspiration. Luke, was there with Paul when they went down to the river outside of Philippi to pray.
From: June 25, 2014
Have you ever found yourself stretched to the point of breaking because of difficult circumstances? We recently returned from a mission trip to Uganda. After a 37 hour trip from the States we landed in Rwanda to catch a bus to the Ugandan border. Unfortunately, the driver took us to the wrong crossing. This resulted in an additional 7 hours of travel over terrible roads and scary moments at the border. Our team maintained its morale, we did plenty of praying, but I wouldn’t say there was a whole lot of singing going on. This situation certainly doesn’t compare to Paul and Silas being beaten with rods and thrown in jail. But any difficult circumstance can reveal what’s really inside of us. When Paul and Silas faced this trial they prayed and sang hymns, and the prison doors flew open, and the jailer and his family got saved. Our gospel witness to others is often at its best when our situation is at its worst. Remember, the “other prisoners are listening.”
From: June 25, 2012
The answer Paul and Silas gave their jailer when he asked how to be saved. An important principle is implied in this story– that the head of house coming to Christ has a profound impact on the spiritual condition of the whole family. Fathers, your spiritual leadership is critical. As the father goes, so goes the family.
From: June 25, 2011
God wanted to save the jailer and his family, so Paul & Silas had to go to jail. As wheat is crushed to make bread, so we become nourishment for others. How has suffering made you more available?