Sunday November 26, 2023
Theme: “Respect for the word of God: Source of blessing for families”
Text: Acts 16:25-34
25. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, and the prisoners were hearing them. 26. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; at the same moment, all the doors opened, and the bonds of all the prisoners were broken. 27. The jailer awoke, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. 28. But Paul cried with a loud voice, Do not harm yourself, we are all here. 29. Then the jailer, having asked for light, rushed in, and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas; 30. He brought them out, and said, Lords, what must I do to be saved? 31. Paul and Silas said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you and your family will be saved. 32. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. 33. And he took them with him, and at that hour of the night he washed their wounds, and immediately he and all his people were baptized. 34. Having brought them to his lodgings, he served them food, and he rejoiced with all his family because he had believed in God.
Let's remember:
The jailer wanted to kill himself because he believed the prisoners had escaped. When he learned that they were still there, he finally freed them. The result was the same. This very subversive gesture by the jailer towards his superiors was proof that he was leaving the world of prison administration to serve God. He preferred to devote himself and his house to God. In the procession of salvation, we must always include our loved ones because the blessing must be family and not singular. The key word of his conversion was: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your family. The jailer accepted this word and held it close to his heart to act faithfully according to everything that was said to him. He knew that there is a blessing hidden behind this obedience. He had made the commitment to change the direction of his life by now integrating respect for the word of God which is the source of blessing for families. The Bible remained silent about the other prisoners released together with Paul and Silas, but we know that after such a miracle, no one could remain indifferent. They had made the decision to follow the path of respect for the word of God in order to better drink from the source of blessing for families. Paul, Silas and all the other prisoners were of excellent moral integrity in having deliberately refused to come out when their bonds were broken; out of respect for God, for his word and for the institutions of the country. Blessing follows those who wait for the “GO” of God, those who know how to wait for God’s instruction before leaving where the wind of the Spirit carries them. Respect for the Word of God takes on more value when our impulse of heart does not trample on the perfect will of God. Respecting the word of God also means inviting God’s servants into our homes and asking them what to do to be saved? Excellent Sunday. Amen
Alain Louz.-
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