Welcome!
Passage: Acts 16:9-40 (NIV 84)
Today: We are all here!
. 27 When the jailer, startled out of his sleep, saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, because he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here! (Acts 16, NIV 84) emphasis added
After the big storm “Sandy” hit New York and other parts of North-East, followed by a nor’easter and the election in between, many of us can only say (thankfully and humbly), “we are all here”!
Some people lost their lives in the storm; many had full/partial loss of their property; most people suffered loss of power (electricity) for days
There were very long lines at gasoline stations to fill up the cars/cans
It was quite an experience. As someone said, “this is just the beginning…”
At the end of it all, some say, “God is good”; most people say, “we were lucky”!
In the mean time, the election was also over; people had enough to talk about
I had to take a two week break for myself, from sending these devotions. It was like a 14-day ordeal for the ship-wreck people in Acts 27! We were also without power for many days, but we had the power inside of us! We also had cooking gas and hot water. It was not that bad!
Some people were under-prepared; some enough-prepared and some, over-prepared for the storm. It is important to prepare, once we get the information
Having got all the information about the coming of Christ, how prepared are we?
Lot of food was thrown out from fridge/freezers after the storm; now we know the value of (having) power!
In the verse above, Paul and Silas were in prison for a daring ministry that led people to Christ and glorified the name of God
After the blessing came the beating! They were flogged severely, and put in prison! (the “beating” may come before or after the blessing!)
Now, Paul and Silas chose to pray and praise in the prison, unlike most of us
When everything is all right, we have a problem to pray and praise God!
These people were beaten up so badly, that they could just bless the Lord!
When Israelites in exit/exodus failed to thank God for the miracles and provisions, they just missed the promise/Canan!
God warns church in America to come back; it needs to wake up
The shocks of the the storms/election will last for just a few weeks, that is it!
We will pull up the blankets and go back to sleep again, when the enemy will be working tirelessly and sleeplessly, 24/7!
Like the jailor in Acts 16, there are many around us, who are in danger. God is looking for some “Paul/Silas” to tell them, “we are here; don’t hurt yourself”!
And then there is another group that is calling for us and waiting for us, saying “we are all here”, waiting for us (Acts 10:33)
People/lands are waiting for us; when are we going to say, “we are here for you”?
Yesterday was “Veterans’ day” and today is holiday in the US
Remember the service and sacrice of the veterans. Let us be grateful for their sleepless/tireless work, putting their lives and loves on the line!
May God bless US!
BG
Prayer: Father God, we are so grateful to you for keeping us alive and well. Thank you for protected and preserving us.We pray for those who suffered losses. Help us to be of help to them. Thank you for your love and mercy. In Jesus’ name; Amen!
Life without power is a struggle!