And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the Word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. (Acts 16:30-34)
Paul not only comforted the jailer in this life but shared with him eternal life. Jesus can deliver us from our circumstances when it glorifies Him but is not under obligation to us to do so. He is not a cosmic genie or our butler to grant us our wishes or clean up our messes, but He is the Lord of all, our Sovereign Saviour who works all things for good, our growth and His glory. This deliverance of the jailer not only added to the Philippian congregation, along with Lydia and her household, but also saved his life and so scared the authorities for beating Paul as a Roman that Paul was released.
No matter what our circumstances we should praise God for His provision, for His strength and comfort, and look for opportunities to share the Gospel with those we meet along the way. Paul shared Jesus with Lydia and with the jailer in Philippi and both households were added to the church of God. God responded to Paul’s obedience by delivering a demoniac and saving those who repented and put their faith and trust in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. God has called His people to go with the Gospel and to live the Gospel we preach.
As we go God calls all His people to holiness and obedience to Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet