A month or two ago in my class at church, one of the girls said that she tried to live every day like it was her last day. Instantly in my mind I decided to do the same. But it wasn’t as easy as it seemed…I soon realized that living every day like it was my last had nothing to do with seeing how much I could get done. Instead, it had to do with obeying God. Paul and Silas did just that.
A Call from Macedonia
Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. (Acts 16:6-8 NLT)
Even in the midst of trouble, they didn’t turn away from God.
Paul and Silas in Prison
One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.” This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her. Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed at Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.” A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in stocks. (Acts 16:16-24 NLT)
Paul and Silas are a great example of what it really means to trust and obey God. God places people in tough situations to see how much they really trust him. Right now I can think of several people who are in those kinds of situations. I’ve been in them, too. But I have to remember that God is love. He loves me, and he wants the best for me. I can’t let bad situations pull me down; I have to trust that God’s in control. Because that’s the truth.
Dear God,
Thank you for giving me an understanding of what it means to trust and obey you. I know the bad situations I’ve been in won’t be my last. So I will trust you, God. For your ways are better than my ways, your thoughts better than my thoughts. Amen
Lanie (llilly2017)
Sixty-six books in a year 