Liberty In Our Bonds

But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” – Acts 16:28-30

“The victory of this story against the backdrop of such a great injustice, such an impossible set of circumstances, is compelling.”

After casting the spirit of divination out of a slave-girl, costing her owners a lucrative business, Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in jail.  In response, these men did not allow the despair of their circumstances to break their focus on GOD. The bible records that at midnight they prayed and sang hymns of praise to God. In the midst of their singing, a earthquake broke the bonds of everyone in that jail. The victory of this story against the backdrop of such a great injustice, such an impossible set of circumstances, is compelling. The powerful imagery is a statement on the attitude that a christian must have if they are to overcome unfair treatment while serving God’s Kingdom.

“Ponder the idea, that no one sought their own freedom, not even Paul and Silas who were wrongly jailed.”

It is intriguing, however, that everyone’s bonds were loosed, yet every prisoner stayed within the confines of the darkest, dampest,  part of the prison. Ponder the idea, that no one sought their own freedom, not even Paul and Silas who were wrongly jailed. Furthermore I am firmly convinced that if they had not prayed and sang hymns of praise to GOD, no one would have had the  benefit of being physically free from their shackles. Paul and Silas, in those conditions, under those circumstances, stayed and ministered to the people around them; even their jailer.

“It should not be lost on believers, that when it counts, a bond servant does not look to fulfill their own comforts, while others languish in the bonds of sin.”

I believe Paul and Silas knew that GOD was in control of their circumstances. Although they were imprisoned, their liberty was intact through Jesus. They had supreme trust that GOD had moved not only on their behalf but for those imprisoned. It should not be lost on believers, that when it counts, a bond servant does not look to fulfill their own comforts, while others languish in the bonds of sin. It should be duly noted that the christian’s charter is to be a disciple that makes disciples. To that end, all the resources of GOD are at your disposal. Notwithstanding what we perceive, persecution, freedom, poverty, or wealth, we must stay the course and continue to share the gospel message.

All The Grace You Need

I was laying across my bed the other night, after a very long and trying day. Dressed in workout gear from head to toe, I was contemplating the possibility of opting out of the gym for the evening, and trading the work out stuff for PJ’s and a warm bed. Every second that went by I was giving a little more of my hard earned determination, back to  the patron saint unhealthy decisions. The decisions that I suspect fuel this ever widening waistline, that my wife pretends not to see, until I have make her mad by eating our children’s leftovers; But I digress.

Water and Worship

“Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” – John 4:15

When the women at the well began her conversation with Jesus she really did not know who He was. In her mind Jesus was simply a Jewish stranger offering her water that would solve her need of being thirsty. Even while she jumped at the chance to have access to a reservoir of water that would solve a tiresome situation, but she didn’t really understand who she was talking to.

Jesus goes further in John 4:16  and says to her,  “go and get your husband and come here. In verse 17, the women answered Jesus and states “I have no husband.” Upon her admission, Jesus, in verse 22 openly identifies her real issue; that she did not now what or whom she was worshiping.

During our time of prayer, in the earliest days of the new year, don’t look for Jesus to bring a superficial solution. He does not deal in band aides and partial fixes. No! Jesus deals with the issue that keeps us from an authentic relationship with HIM. When we have decided to face our issues so that we might have all of HIM, our lives will be changed forever.

Lord, provide us with your living water, that we might be true worshipers, who worship GOD in truth and in spirit. Bless us to be people who long for a change, of not just our situations, but also our hearts and minds. As you show us ourselves in this new year, provide a desire to surrender our understanding, for a deeper revelation of who you are. Amen

The Value of a Worthy Vessel

 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. – 2 Corinthians 4:7