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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Acts 16:35f. Daylight came in Philippi, and Paul and Silas were still prisoners, despite everything that had happened to the senior prison officer and his family. The magistrates had decided to release Paul and Silas - "Go. Off you go - out of our road - off our patch - go in peace." But Paul said - "NO. They have beaten us openly - we are untried - illegally imprisoned - and now you want to dismiss us quietly and privately - as if it had never happened. No - No - No - Let the magistrates come and meet us."
Paul is not standing upon his dignity here. There is a principle at stake. He wants to make sure that the magistrates are fair and true. He is thinking about others. He does not want any other Philippian disciples to get into trouble as a consequence of their ministry.
The authorities had been very much in the wrong, and Paul's desire that these new disciples of Jesus can live in comparative peace.
When all this is resolved and sorted out, they went to Lydia's house for a fellowship meeting - the jailer and Lydia. There is a now a fellowship of Jesus Christ in Philippi, and Paul encouraged and comforted them. He always wanted to strengthen new groups of disciples - always. Do whatever you can to encourage, comfort and strengthen believers in Jesus Christ.
It was as if God had said - "Paul there is a man in that prison who needs my love. Are you prepared to go in there that I may reach him and touch him?" How else could he have been reached? And, a man was required to lead that new fellowship of disciples of Jesus in Philippi!
What a way to live - preaching - bleeding - marked - chained - filled with the power of the Holy Spirit - concerned for all the others - in the place where God wants you to be no matter what the cost - being used by God wherever you are - and having that interest and compassion to see young believers encouraged and built up and rooted in the local fellowship. Paul's concern and interest for them continued.
When you are sore - know that Jesus can soothe you. When you are laughed at - know that Jesus sees. When you are down - know that Jesus can lift you. When you are hurt - know that Jesus can heal you. Wherever you are - know that Jesus can use you. When you are in prison - continue to praise.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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