07-09-20

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 9, 2020
Scripture: Acts 16:25-28
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”

Thought for the Day: What does it say that when given the opportunity to run to freedom, Paul and Silas chose to honor their jailer’s life? When given the choice between liberty or saving your captor, what would be your choice? Paul and Silas wanted to take everyone with them, not simply those who were like them. It is a rather startling image of redemption as it is not selfish or narrowly defined. It’s one thing to speak in ways that are wonderfully inclusive and theoretically gracious. It is something very different to risk your own deliverance for the sake of another. Has anyone ever risked anything close to that for you? If so, what did that mean?

Prayer: Holy God, in Christ Jesus, we see one who did not choose an easy and painless path for the sake of his own deliverance. Instead, we gain a glimpse of your far-reaching and sacrificial love put on display as Jesus risked everything for our deliverance. Amen.

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