Good morning, Loved Ones:
The one thing I keep hearing this morning is, “Part-time Praise.” Trust me, I had a blank stare on my face, when I first heard it myself. Of course, I had to ask the question, “Father, what are you wanting me to hear?”
There are times when we go through hard times. Life’s circumstances is one thing we all have in common. If we are children of God, even on hard days, what should our response be when hard times creep into our lives?
The bible is full of examples of hardship, suffering, pain, imprisonment and even death. How are we to respond to God during those times? Does God expect us to break-out into a cheer of happiness when we lose our job, or face other disappointments? I would say definitely not. I do believe that he expects us to continually look to him. It’s about how we RESPOND to those difficult times.
Let’s look at Paul and Silas:
Acts 16:22-34
New International Version (NIV)
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
Look at how Paul and Silas used their hardship to bring others to Christ. The first that we must all know, as Christians, is this.
1. People watch how we as Christians respond to hard times.
2. Based on how we do respond, it will either push people away from Christ or pull them closer.
This walk we have is not a part-time walk. It is a daily, 24 hour, full-time walk. Our walk is sacred and divine. Every step has a meaning. Every response is an act of worship, based on our relationship with God.
Sacred Journey Devotionals - Where Christianity and Metaphysics Meet 