😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you. In the Book of Acts chapter 16 Luke shares with us some conversion stories that make me think…”Really? They got it that fast?” He mentioned speaking with a group of women at a river and how Lydia, a worshiper of God, listened and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. Then in the next sentence we hear that Lydia and her entire household were baptized. About 10 verses later we are enlightened by the Holy Spirit once again working through Paul. But this time he wasn’t near a river. He and Silas were prisoners in a jail, praying and singing hymns. As the guard slept, the Holy Spirit shook the very foundation of the jail, opening all the doors and pulling loose their chains. As the guard slept, they could have walked out and continued on their journey, but they chose to stay. If for nothing else to save the guard’s life, not just once, but twice. When the guard finally woke and saw the gates open, he drew his sword to take his own life for allowing all the prisoners to escape. Paul called out, ensuring him that they were still there and stopped him from taking his life. Immediately after his life being physically saved, the guard fell down before Paul and Silas asking what he must do to be saved. “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.” After hearing the word of the Lord and tending to Paul and Silas’ wounds, the guard and all his family were baptized.
Reading about experiences like these makes we wonder what in the world took me so long. I’m sure people were speaking God’s truth into my life, but in those moments my heart, mind, and spirit weren’t completely open to His invitation and longing to be together. Like Lydia, I too was a worshiper of God. Like the guard, I too had an experience of slumbering, waking up frightened for the life I thought I would lose, but in reality, being awoken to a life with the Lord. Which was what I was unknowingly longing for.
Do I wish I would have understood sooner…YES! But that doesn’t change the fact that I did finally truly understand and get what God, Father, Son, and Spirit are all about. If you’re still sucking wind, it’s not too late. Listen for and hear the Holy Spirit. Move in tandem. Let your life be a reflection of Him.
Bless others and be blessed.
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#StephenStanley – No Hopeless Soul
Third Day Devotions 