Reading Plan: 

Acts 16

Belief Fuels Action

Author: Cooper Herrington

Have you ever taken a trip that blew your expectations out of the water? You expected your vacation to be a dreamy vacation but something unexpected popped up, and things took a turn for the worse. I know that has been true for me. This past spring, a few friends and I took a trip to Big Bend National Park. We hit the road excited and totally unprepared for what lay ahead. The trip was expected to be about a 17-hour drive from our hometown to Big Bend. We drove through the night and made it to Big Bend just as the sun began to rise. We were pumped. We hiked all day that day and took in some amazing views. At the end of the day, we were exhausted from the drive and hiking. We were ready to get to our campsite, sit around a fire, eat some hotdogs, take showers, and sleep. Unfortunately, that was not how things ended up. We got to the campsite to find no showers within sight. At this point, it was also pitch-black outside because the only lights allowed in Big Bend are the sun, moon, and stars. We finally found the showers about ten miles away - down the curviest, bumpiest dirt road ever created. We were totally okay with skipping hotdogs and eating at the small café next to the showers. The only problem was that it closed two minutes before we got there. After showering, we drove back to the campground to start a fire and eat hot dogs. Well, the firewood I bought was terrible and would not catch fire at all. So, instead, we each ate a couple of cold hotdogs and went to bed. I forgot to mention that it was much colder than we anticipated during the night - by about twenty degrees or so. And that was just the first night!  

I like to imagine that Paul and Silas’ journey might have felt like a rollercoaster, too. These men set out to share the good news that Jesus was the Messiah and had risen from the dead. Lots of excitement and adventure were on the horizon. Then they found themselves in all sorts of uncomfortable situations.

In today’s reading, they were beaten and thrown in jail. Through all of this, they remained faithful to share the gospel and choose joy in their suffering. In the jailhouse God allowed them to be a part of something miraculous. Paul and Silas were praising God and singing in prison as the other prisoners listen. All of a sudden there was an earthquake, all the doors opened, and everyone’s chains fell loose. The guard freaked out when he saw this and almost made a rash decision. Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer stopped and ran to Paul and Silas. The jailer recognized there was something different about them. The questions the jailer asked then is also one of the most important questions we can ask now. “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…” So simple, yet so great.  

It can be easy for me to overcomplicate simple things, especially when it comes to following Jesus. Yet his invitation to us is one of simplicity. Believe in Him, believe He is the Son of God, believe He was alive, died, and rose from the dead, and you will be saved. There is nothing we can do to earn our salvation! All we can do is accept the gift of God’s grace and believe He is who He says He is.  

What I love about the story of the jailer is that he was a man of action. His belief propelled him to action. After he believed, he told his family about Jesus, and they were all baptized. Through this, the guard changed his life, his family's life, and generations to come because his belief fueled action. Imagine what could happen if you took your next step in following Jesus. What could happen in your family? What could happen in your work or school? What could happen in your city? What could happen in generations to come because of your belief and action? 

Reflection:

 

Family Application: Praise God Always 

Author: Nichole McCardle