Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Speaking of Crime.


6-24-2014      Acts 16:35-40

S.       35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. 36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

O.      Paul makes it clear to the magistrates that he was wrongly beaten and put in jail but he does not seek retribution. Paul spends some time back in the home of Lydia before leaving town.

A.      Being wronged and treated badly is an unpleasant part of life. How we react to this treatment is a reflection on our Christianity and our God. Paul spoke out and exposed the truth of his ill-treatment but did not strike back. I must leave the punishment of wrongdoing to God and stay busy spreading the gospel.


P.       Father; I give the ones who have wronged me to you to deal with. Help me to keep a loving and forgiving attitude towards each one. Touch my spirit and clear away the bad memories. Show me your path for this day and strengthen my body for the tasks ahead. Amen.

No comments: