In the Light

In the Light

Acts 16: ³⁵ When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” ³⁶ The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”

³⁷ But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

³⁸ The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. ³⁹ They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. ⁴⁰ After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left.

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“You won’t tell will you?’ I asked remorsefully. I had done something wrong and I did not want anyone to know I had made a mistake. I thought it would be easier to have the mistake hidden rather than facing up to the situation.

• There have been times when I wanted to cover up my mistakes.
• There have been times when I did not want to admit I did something wrong.
• There have been times when I tried to smooth over a situation with the “good” I was doing so the mistake could be overlooked.

The magistrates realized they had made a mistake and sent to have Paul and Silas released. But Paul and Silas saw through their sneaky attempt to conceal their mistake. To make matters worse, they mentioned their citizenship, implying the magistrates had overstepped their authority and could do it again to anyone.

• GOD wants me to act in the light.
• GOD wants me to take the sting out of the mistake by admitting it early.
• GOD wants me to tell people about my mistakes so they will not surface as a much larger problem.

Hidden sin is difficult to carry around. I mean, when I hide sin, then pretending nothing happened becomes more and more difficult. Eventually I look over my shoulder so much that I second guess if GOD loves me or not. BUT GOD wants something different.

GOD wants me to have confidence in my relationship with HIM. HE wants me to openly tell people about my sin so the sin becomes powerless. When someone says to me “You did this” or “You did that” I can say, “Yep, everyone knows I made that mistake.” I am grateful GOD gives me second and third and many other chances because HE gives me grace.

• Have you made a mistake?
• Do you feel like hiding your mistakes?
• Will you ask GOD for the strength to admit your mistakes?

Setting Plots

Mark: And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. ² So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. ³ And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” ⁴ Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. ⁵ And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. ⁶ Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.

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From sneaky bosses to sneaky workers I remember setting plots to catch them in the act. I spent numerous hours setting traps containing fake information left precariously on my desk. I would then tell the powers that be to watch out for this fake info. I caught a couple of rats.

• There were times when I sought to be right.
• There were times when I looked for others to be wrong.
• There were times when I searched for the bad in people so I could catch them in the act.

Looking for the bad in others had become a norm for me. Suspicions, doubts and sub-plots all danced in my head as I raised my shields and dropped my trust. BUT GOD wanted something different.

• GOD wanted me to seek the lost no matter how shady.
• GOD wanted me to look for those who want to follow HIM but may be caught in the way of the world.
• GOD wanted me to search for the good in people rather than seeing their obvious faults.

When I started looking for the good in people, it was hard to find. I mean that same homeless person was outwardly counting a roll of money in front of me; meanwhile I was eating peanut butter and jelly for lunch! GOD said to me “Drop your judgement on them too. Forgive those as I have forgiven you.”

Instead of setting traps, GOD wants me to set training. HE wants me to wish the best for the scoundrel and train those who desire to follow HIM in HIS ways. HE wants me to seek the lost.

• Are you suspicious of people?
• Is your trust in others low?
• Can you stop looking for the bad in people and search for those who are seeking GOD today?

Servant’s Choice

Matthew 24: ⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. ⁴⁷ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁸ But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ ⁴⁹ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. ⁵⁰ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. ⁵¹ He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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Balling up paper was fun. We gathered enough to have about twenty a piece for our game. An empty trash can was our basket. Shot after shot increased our skills. We even adjusted for the wind.

“What are you two doing?” was the question from our boss. “Unloading the truck” we replied. I guess I will not be put in charge of much here.

• I have goofed off at work.
• I have fallen asleep at work.
• I have played games, held phone calls and went out on extended lunches at work.

Dead end job was the label I put on the position and I did not value the position at all. I went from job to job with that same attitude. BUT GOD wanted more.

• GOD wants me to serve HIM on every job I work.
• GOD wants me to understand HE sees me and that should be enough to keep me from goofing off.
• GOD wants me to do in private what I do in public.

The servant who thinks JESUS is never going to return is quite mistaken. HIS return is imminent. In fact, for some, this may be their very last day on this earth. HE suggests that I have a choice, be caught serving or be caught goofing off, mistreating people. JESUS wants me to serve people while I still have the chance.

• Are you goofing off when you could be serving someone for GOD?
• Do you think work is more important than serving someone for GOD at work?
• Can you do your work as if you were doing it for GOD?
• Will you serve someone or pray for someone today?