Knows No Bounds

On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.
Acts 16:13-14 NLT

Paul and Silas went outside the city because Philippi prohibited bringing an unrecognized religion within the city limits. There they met Lydia, a wealthy woman, who listened to their message and received Jesus Christ as her savior - she and members of her household. 

Later, they were harassed by a demon-possessed servant girl (vvs 16-18), until Paul commanded by the demon to leave her and it had to obey. That caused a world of problems for both Paul and Silas, and they wound up in prison after having been stripped and beaten. 

You may know the story of Paul and Silas after midnight, praying and singing hymns to God. Acts 16:25-28, The Bible says and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself.      But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”  ALL of them - not just Paul and Silas. All the prisoners were still there! None of them left. They WERE listening...I think all the prisoners became believers that night! We certainly know the jailer did and all of his household.

The salvation message knows no bounds. It crosses all socio-economic boundaries; from the wealthy to the servant, to the prisoners, and their jailer. All of them listened. All of them believed. All of them forever changed. God's perfect love knows no bounds. Aren't you glad?

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You that Your "whosoever will..." includes everyone, no matter who or what we are. Help us to hear and know the Truth of Your Word and to be as eager to share it with others as Paul and Silas - no matter the circumstances. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Put in Place

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. 
Genesis 50:20a NLT

We're familiar with the story of Joseph and how his brothers threw him into the pit. His brothers intended harm. However, he went from the pit to Potiphar's house to prison (after being falsely accused) and then to the palace. But we all know the story's redemption. How Joseph was actually put in place to be able to save his family from extinction. In Genesis chapters 37 through 50, it is truly an incredible story.

One of promise. One of hope. One of beauty from ashes. 

We would do well to remember it and look for similarities in our own lives so we can give God praise. My latest one? Earlier this year, my adult daughter was lamenting that she just didn't have any close friends here and she wanted one. When we had to evacuate during the flood of Hurricane Harvey, we were put in place in the home of a young woman who we'd never met prior to the storm. She and my daughter became fast friends who still talk daily and encourage one another. Two peas in a pod. Harvey intended to harm, but God turned it all for her good. And that's just ONE story.

How many do you have? Look back with your spiritual eyes over the hard times in your life. What virtues were cultivated in the piling on of life's fertilizers?  Is it too soon to look back? Are you still in the middle of it all? Be encouraged! Take hope! Choose to thank God now in the midst of it all, KNOWING that He will put it all in place to make it work for your good.

Can you believe it?

Prayer:

Father,
          We know Your Word promises that You cause everything to work together for the good of those of us who love You and are called according to Your purpose for us. Help us always to recognize and give thanks for the opportunities to grow in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

True Freedom *

The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
       Because He has anointed Me
      To preach the gospel to the poor;
      He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
      To proclaim liberty to the captives
      And recovery of sight to the blind,
      To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
      To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

 Luke 4:18-19  NKJV

How many times have you read this portion of Scripture and held on to it for dear life - or used it when ministering to someone who was heartbroken? Have you ever wondered if God really understood the depth of your broken heart? I'm not trying to be fractious or facetious. I've had people express that very question to me. To be honest with you, I've wondered a time or two myself - God, do You know to what extent exactly it was broken?

Let me assure you, He does.

There are some horrible, deplorable, gut-wrenching events that take place in the lives of those around us and in our own lives. Some we know about. Some we don't... not till much later. Some we read about and throw a prayer heaven-ward, but are we touched with the feeling of their situation? For instance, when was the last time we thought about and fervently prayed for the people of Malaysia who are still trying to recover? Scripture tells us Jesus IS touched with the feeling of our situations. 

If we do even just a little study on the word thrauo  - which is the Greek word interpreted as oppressed, we will find that it means to break, break in pieces, 

shatter, smite through.  If we go to the original reference (Isaiah 61:1), we find that the Hebrew word definition translates to break, break in or down, break in pieces, rend violently, wreck, crush, quench, rupture (figuratively), to be broken, be maimed, be crippled, be wrecked, to shatter... I'd say that pretty well covers it, wouldn't you?

And as Jim Mackey sagaciously pointed out a few years back, anything that crushes or shatters our life creates a prison of our own making. It is from THAT prison Christ came to set us free. Free to be who God created us to be. Free to free others from the chains of their souls, no matter where they may be. 

That's true freedom.

Prayer:

Father,

          Continue to illuminate Your Word so that we get it and can walk in the freedom that You alone can and have provided for us. And as we grasp the Truth of Your Word, help us to give the keys to those around us who need a way out of the prison of their souls. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen