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It Isn't Always What It Seems
Andrea Lende • August 8, 2020
Acts 16:34
It Isn’t Always What It Seems
You can also listen to the meditation and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/It-Isnt-Always-What-It-Seems-ehsc2e
Daily Word:
Acts 16:34
“Then he took them up into his house and set food before them; and he leaped much for joy and exulted with all his family that he believed in God [accepting and joyously welcoming what He had made known through Christ].”
The jailer had secured Paul and Silas in the deepest part of the dungeon so they would not escape.
We know that as Paul and Silas were singing and praising God that the doors of each of the jail cells were opened.
No one left their cell.
However, the jailer was saved.
He joined the kingdom that night.
As a miracle appeared before him, he wanted to know about the Lord.
He was told about Christ and was shown that he could trust in the Lord to care for him.
As He was converted into the faith, his heart was softened.
He took Paul and Silas to his home and cleaned and dressed their wounds as they had been flogged.
Then he fed them as our verse tells us today.
He was filled with joy – the Holy Ghost kind of joy.
He and his family were baptized that night.
It took great sacrifice on the part of Paul and Silas as they underwent severe flogging.
They must have wondered how it would all turn out – their potential jail sentence.
And yet, as they endured much pain they prayed and sang praises to the Lord.
The Lord made a way to release them that night and their wounds be tended to.
He also had a plan to bring another family to Christ and save their souls.
So as God was saving Paul and Silas, He was also saving the jailer and his family.
God can make a way where there seems to be no way.
As the outlook of the next few months looks somewhat dismal, we can be sure that the Lord has a plan.
His plan will bring more people to Him.
His plan will also surely include those of us already in the fold.
Today I choose to trust the Lord as He works out everything for His glory.
May you find that as you trust in the Lord, He will show Himself faithful to your needs as He is bringing more people closer to Himself.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for showing me that Your plan is more than enough to take care of me even when the circumstances don’t look good in my eyes. Thank You for showing me that Your plan is perfect and will always be to bring people to You and Your Son. Increase my faith as I look into the unknown, Father. Help me not waiver in my belief that You will work out every circumstance perfectly. Strengthen me so that I am able to serve You in the highest and best way, Lord. Do not let me shrink from Your will. Light the way for me to walk the path You have for me, Father. Lead and guide me in all that I do today. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM watching over and protecting you, My child, and My plan will unfold perfectly even if you waiver and see something that frightens you.
Response: Help me know that everything is going according to Your plan, Lord.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.