An Earthly Reward for Faithfulness

August 14

(Acts 16:19-24 NIV)  "When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. {20} They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar {21} by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice." {22} The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. {23} After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. {24} Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks."

(Acts 7:54-60 NIV) "When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. {55} But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. {56} "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." {57} At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, {58} dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. {59} While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." {60} Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep."

This may come as a surprise, but the earthly reward for faithfulness may be hate and persecution. Sharing Christ may get you a kick in the stomach, rather than a pat on the back. Paul and Silas saw a woman who needed to be set free from a dark spirit, and for their act of mercy, they were beaten and arrested. This still happens in many parts of the world today where Christians refuse to compromise their faith and witness. Not everyone will be happy that Jesus set you free -- it threatens the spirit of darkness in their lives. People you partied with will often view your conversion with disdain, rather than as a touching story of a soul set free. Tell your story anyway. Sing God’s praises even in the dark places of life. Love people. Tell them why you’ve changed when they notice you are different. Don’t let the hate discourage or silence you. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Great Melting Pot

August 13

(Acts 16:14 NIV) “One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.”

(Acts 16:16 NIV) “Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.”

(Acts 16:29-34 NIV) ““The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. {30} He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" {31} They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." {32} Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. {33} At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. {34} The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family.””

The early church was a melting pot. In Philippi, God put an upper class wealthy female business executive together with a formerly demon- possessed slave girl and a sturdy middle class Roman jailer. People who would never have associated before Jesus came together around the cross of Christ. Lives that had nothing in common except salvation had their hearts melted together by the fire of the Holy Spirit. What a grand idea! Christ still wants His church to be a melting pot. But today, instead of asking God, “Where could I be used the most for the glory of your Kingdom?” we go church shopping for the group that is most like us. We look for a church that will serve our needs, rather than a church where we can serve the needs of others. We end up in churches with a common income level, a common skin color, and a common family status. And we’re all poorer for it. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

The Greatest Question

August 12

(Acts 16:23-34 NIV) “After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. {24} Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. {25} About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. {26} Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. {27} The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. {28} But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" {29} The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. {30} He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" {31} They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." {32} Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. {33} At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. {34} The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV) “Be joyful always; {17} pray continually; {18} give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

After Paul and Silas freed the slave girl from an evil spirit, they were arrested, beaten, and thrown into jail. Later, they were heard singing praises to God. Light can shine, even from dark prison cells. One of those listening was the Roman jailer. Rome had strict rules for jailers. If anyone escaped during your watch, you were executed. So when an earthquake came, and the cell doors sprang open, the jailer assumed everyone had escaped. He was about to kill himself when Paul assured him that no one was missing. Realizing it was a miracle, the jailer fell on his knees and asked the greatest question one can ever ask: “What must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas shared the gospel with him, and he and his household became believers. We can learn from this. When we praise God in difficult times, He can make great things happen. And if you haven’t asked the greatest question… ask it! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

A Gospel for Those in Bondage

August 11

(Acts 16:16-18 NIV) “Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. {17} This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." {18} She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.””

(Luke 4:31-37 NIV) ““Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. {32} They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority. {33} In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, {34} "Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" {35} "Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. {36} All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" {37} And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.””

Jesus came to set the captives free. He died for the poor as well as for the wealthy. He saves the weak and the powerful. Paul’s first convert in Philippi was a wealthy businesswoman… his second was a spirit-possessed slave girl. That’s diversity! The slave girl would have been the polar opposite of Lydia. She was part of a lower class of people who were seen as human chattel by those who owned them. To her owners, she was a possession, not a person -- but Paul saw a woman possessed by more than just men. She had an evil spirit that told fortunes, and her owners used her to make money. She was a spiritual prostitute. But then she heard the name of Jesus as Paul spoke freedom into her life, silencing the voices of darkness that came from her mouth. The Most High God set her free. Christ wants to do that for you. Are you free? In the name of Jesus, be free! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day