Goodbook messages arrive every Monday, Thursday, and
Friday with a Scripture reading and ideas for how to apply the reading in our
lives. We are reading through the book of Acts. For additional Scripture
reading, you can follow the Advanced Track.Reading: Acts 16:33-34
(Advanced Track: 2 Chronicles 10‐12)
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.
Application:
In this story we see a living picture of the sacraments – baptism and communion. Remember that Paul and Silas were thrown in jail and placed under the guard of the jailer. An earthquake set the prisoners free, but they stayed for the sake of the jailer. Through their act of loving sacrifice, they were able to tell the jailer about the loving sacrifice of Jesus. The jailer placed his faith in Jesus. Then we see the sacraments in living color.
First, the jailer washed and was washed. He washed the wounds of Paul and Silas. They had been beaten. They had been broken. They had been chained. The jailer was washing away the junk and the mess so that healing could happen. Paul and Silas turned around and did the same thing for the jailer through the waters of baptism. Through the waters of baptism, God washed away the junk and the mess and the brokenness in our life so healing and new life can happen. God washes away our sin and offers us the free gifts of forgiveness and new life. Martin Luther invited people to return to the waters of baptism daily. Every day we need a reminder of God’s grace and we need a moment when God can wash us with his forgiving, healing, and life-giving waters.
Second, the jailer fed and was fed. The jailer welcomed Paul and Silas into his home as family. In fact, they were family now. They were brothers in the family of God. The jailer provided food and nourishment for these men who were likely famished. It does not say this, but I wonder if Paul used that meal as an opportunity to demonstrate the salvation of Jesus in a communion celebration. Seems possible, at least. As the jailer provided food for their bodies, Jesus provides food for our soul. He gave his body and blood for our salvation. In Jesus and His Word we find true satisfaction and nourishment for our spiritual journey.
These sacraments are more than reminders of grace. They are an invitation to live out God’s grace in the world. The washed wash others. The fed feed others. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
1) Take a moment to return to the waters of baptism. You can use the water in a sink or shower or water fountain. Make a sign of the cross on your forehead. Invite God’s forgiving, healing, life-giving waters to refresh, reclaim, and renew you.
2) As the washed and fed, make the most of opportunities to bring healing to the wounded and nourishment to the hungry.
Share your thoughts, questions, and ideas about how to apply this…
In our world, it's a difficult task to assign.
ReplyDeleteHow often do we invite those, unlike ourselves to be a part of our joy, in Christ?
How removed we have become...... This is an awesome message to stretch ourselves to achieve. It is a difficult task.
Who among us have the ability to succeed? How can I do this? Can I do this alone? (cliff notes!!!!)
And Pastor, how often do we see, wounded do not often have visible wounds, hungry are not necessarily starving for food.
Nourishment might just come from the word..... I think that word is LOVE