Luke 5: 20 “When He saw their faith; He said to Him, ‘Man, your sins are forgiven you.’” Acts 16: 30 “………..’Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’”
Dear God,
Jesus on earth had power to forgive sins; some found this blasphemous, and so did not take it seriously, and for others to be healed of their physical ailments was to them more desired, than to be forgiven of their sins.
Please God, truly strengthen me, so that I can humble all of me before You in repentance and supplication. To be forgiven and then covered by Christ’s robe of righteousness, is in its self a miraculous thing, for now God does not see me as the sinner I am, but as one sinless, because Jesus the One who covers me is sinless. Hallelujah, again today, for You love and acceptance of me as sinless, through Jesus Christ. Please keep this thought and belief deep in my mind and heart for all time.
Your loyal ambassadors, Paul, Silas and Timothy, were filled with much joy and could not keep from telling others about the good news, of the crucified risen Christ; now returned to heaven to intercede for mankind. Full of consecration and the Holy Spirit, they risked their lives to tell others, so they also could learn to love Jesus and be saved. The disciples were often not well received, and frequently risked their lives, telling the gospel story so others could choose Jesus and be saved from the consequences of their sins. On the occasion written about in Acts 16, Paul and Silas had been beaten and put into prison, after witnessing about Jesus their Saviour.
From this passage, I derive so many lessons, and questions to ask myself. Such as whether I am faithfully telling others about Jesus, as I should be? If I am not in the perfect, joyful trust, of these men in and out of jail; why am I not? Acts 16: 25 “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” A mighty earth quake occurred, and all the doors were opened; even those of the inner security section. The keeper of the jail presumed that all the inmates would have escaped, and was going to kill himself, until Paul called out, telling him not to do that, because all the prisoners were still inside the jail. The keeper, trembling with shock and emotion, asked how he also could be saved by Jesus, V31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” They believed and were immediately baptized, V34 “………..and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his house hold.”
What a beautiful thing it is, when a person is told about Jesus by someone who loves You too much to keep from telling others about Your great love and their hope for the future. And so it was as I read about the apostles and new believers, who are recorded in the scriptures telling as many people as they could, that they also, with them could be saved from their sins and have eternal life. They did not forget to tell these new Christians that they also can have the infilling of the Holy Spirit and experience His gifts of joy, hope and peace on earth.
I am thankful that I know about Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, and now have hope in Him; because someone cared enough to share, and like the jailer I have accepted Jesus.
Amen