The Grands Letter (Acts/GLJ)

on January 20, 2021 6:34 am (CST)
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Dear Grands,

Acts 16:25-31, “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the
prisoners were listening to them;
26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and
immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened.
27 And when the jailer had been roused out of sleep and had seen the prison doors opened, he drew his sword
and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!”
29 And he called for lights and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 And they said, “’Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.’”

I have always loved music. Space is insufficient here to detail my family’s musical talents, except to say that throughout the years of my upbringing, I learned how music feeds and fills one’s life in dark and dismal times. It is indeed therapeutic. Paul was Jewish, remember; thus, music was warp and woof of his life also. He mentions singing in First Corinthians 14:15, and connects it there with prayer.

It’s worthy of mention, too, that the music Paul and Silas sang were hymns of praise to Almighty God! So much of what is called “music” today is mere clap-trap! We have allowed true praise of God to be hijacked by an industry focused on showmanship and materialism. True praise, however, results in Divine action! All prisoners were released from their shackles. “If therefore, the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (Jn 8:36).

Jailors in those days were threatened with death if prisoners escaped. That’s why the jailor was about to kill himself. But, Paul shouted for him to stop what he was intending. There is a time when we need to shout an alarm! Sin binds mankind more securely than the shackles of that dismal prison. Those of us who know the LORD in His saving grace, need to do some shouting! Men and women are lost without Jesus Christ! They know the emptiness of being lost, but we who are saved know the way out of that darkened condition.

The jailor asked, “What must I do to be saved?” And Paul said, “Believe in the LORD Jesus, and you shall be saved…” It’s so simple, yet many stumble over the simplicity. They want to do something magnanimous. No!
Jesus did the magnanimous when He died for our sins and arose alive from the grave! Mankind is a prisoner of sin. If you have yet to truly trust Him, you can be freed today. He will banish the darkness from your life and flood it with His love! What have you got to lose by doing it His way? What have we got to lose by sharing Him?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

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