Post by lesbrewer on Jul 15, 2022 19:49:51 GMT
The Whole House By: Winn Collier
Click here for the Audio Message
Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.
Acts 16:31
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Acts 16:22–34
Wearing his striped jumpsuit, James walked across the steamy prison gym and climbed into the portable pool where he was baptised by the prison chaplain. James’ joy multiplied, however, when he heard that his daughter Brittany—also an inmate—had been baptised that same day . . . in the same water! When they realised what had happened, even the staff got emotional. “There wasn’t a dry eye,” the chaplain said. In and out of jail for years, Brittany and her dad both wanted God’s forgiveness. And together, God gave them new life.
Scripture describes another prison encounter—this time with a jailer—where Jesus’ love transformed an entire family. After a “violent earthquake” shook the prison and “the prison doors flew open,” Paul and Silas didn’t run but remained in their cell (Acts 16:26–28). The jailer, overcome with gratitude that they didn’t flee, took them to his house and eventually asked that life-changing question: “What must I do to be saved?” (v. 30)
“Believe in the Lord Jesus,” they answered, “you and your household” (v. 31). The response reveals God’s desire to pour out mercy on not only individuals but also entire families. Encountering God’s love, they all came “to believe in God—[the jailer] and his whole household” (v. 34). Though we’re often eager for the salvation of those we love, we can trust that God loves them even more than we do. He desires to renew all of us, our whole house.
Reflect & Pray
What difference does it make to consider how God loves and reaches out to whole families? How can you trust God’s mercy for your family?
God, I know Your love for my family is so much larger and stronger than my love could ever be. Please reveal Yourself to all of us.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
We see two closely linked movements in the book of Acts: geographical and ethnic. The good news moves from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth and from Jews to gentiles. Jerusalem represents Judaism and God’s Old Testament promise to bring salvation to the world through the nation of Israel. This promise goes back to God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3), where God promised that He’d create a great nation (Israel) through him and would bless all people. This promise was fulfilled through Jesus the Messiah (Luke 1:55, 73; 3:34; 19:9; Acts 3:25; 7:17).
Our Daily Bread
Acts 16:22-34
King James Version
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Click here for the Audio Message
Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.
Acts 16:31
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Acts 16:22–34
Wearing his striped jumpsuit, James walked across the steamy prison gym and climbed into the portable pool where he was baptised by the prison chaplain. James’ joy multiplied, however, when he heard that his daughter Brittany—also an inmate—had been baptised that same day . . . in the same water! When they realised what had happened, even the staff got emotional. “There wasn’t a dry eye,” the chaplain said. In and out of jail for years, Brittany and her dad both wanted God’s forgiveness. And together, God gave them new life.
Scripture describes another prison encounter—this time with a jailer—where Jesus’ love transformed an entire family. After a “violent earthquake” shook the prison and “the prison doors flew open,” Paul and Silas didn’t run but remained in their cell (Acts 16:26–28). The jailer, overcome with gratitude that they didn’t flee, took them to his house and eventually asked that life-changing question: “What must I do to be saved?” (v. 30)
“Believe in the Lord Jesus,” they answered, “you and your household” (v. 31). The response reveals God’s desire to pour out mercy on not only individuals but also entire families. Encountering God’s love, they all came “to believe in God—[the jailer] and his whole household” (v. 34). Though we’re often eager for the salvation of those we love, we can trust that God loves them even more than we do. He desires to renew all of us, our whole house.
Reflect & Pray
What difference does it make to consider how God loves and reaches out to whole families? How can you trust God’s mercy for your family?
God, I know Your love for my family is so much larger and stronger than my love could ever be. Please reveal Yourself to all of us.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
We see two closely linked movements in the book of Acts: geographical and ethnic. The good news moves from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth and from Jews to gentiles. Jerusalem represents Judaism and God’s Old Testament promise to bring salvation to the world through the nation of Israel. This promise goes back to God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3), where God promised that He’d create a great nation (Israel) through him and would bless all people. This promise was fulfilled through Jesus the Messiah (Luke 1:55, 73; 3:34; 19:9; Acts 3:25; 7:17).
Our Daily Bread
Acts 16:22-34
King James Version
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
