ACTS 16:11-34
Divine encounter is something planned in heaven that is played out here on earth. Your relationship with God starts with an encounter but continues by faith. An encounter with the living God should not only excite you but should change you forever! Scriptures give many examples of those whose lives were changed by an encounter with God – Moses, Isaiah, the Apostles, Paul.
Beloved, Paul and Silas in the sixteenth chapter of the Acts of Apostles, bore witness not only by their proclaiming the gospel verbally, but also by their example. Their rights had been violated, their backs were ripped open by the stripes that beat them, and they were thrown into the stocks in the inner prison. However, rather than complain and throw a pity party, they sang hymns and prayed as the other prisoners listened. (Acts 16:25). If their focus had been on their own well-being, as soon as the prison doors flew open, they would have fled in to their freedom. Their focus was on glorifying God and seeing other people encounter God, experience His saving grace, no matter how undeserving they might be. We must never despise any person as irredeemable in God’s sight.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, even when you are treated unfairly, you are probably being given a major opportunity for witness. If you rejoice in the Lord and keep your focus on the salvation of those who are mistreating you, your life and words can lead them to the Savior. If your focus is on yourself and getting your rights or getting revenge, you will miss the opportunity. We should join the jailer and their households by responding in faith and giving glory to God for opening our heart to the good news, that Jesus Christ will save every sinner who believes.
ACTS 16: 30- 31 says “He then brought them out, and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household.” We must seek every opportunity to proclaim the gospel, both through our words and through our lives. The jailer and his entire household had an encounter with the Lord, believed in the gospel and got saved.
Happy Thanksgiving Sunday to all brothers and sisters in Christ and welcome to the beginning of the second third of the year.
PRAYER POINT: Father, come into the center of my every activity, and remove those things that keep me from encountering You.