In Acts 13:1-12, Paul and Barnabas are set apart for the work of the Lord. They are subsequently led by the Holy Spirit to different cities where they preach the Gospel. When they arrive at Paphos, they meet a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, also known as Elymas. He was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The latter sends for Paul and Barnabas because he wanted to hear the word of God. However, Elymas tries to discourage him from the faith. However, Paul filled with the Holy Spirit, rebukes him and he becomes blind. When the proconsul, impressed by the teaching about the Lord, sees this, he immediately believes.
    A few things get my attention about this story of salvation. One, a Roman proconsul desires to hear the word of God. This man was extremely wealthy. He was a member of the senatorial class which boasted great wealth and political power in the Roman empire. It would seem he had everything and lacked nothing yet, he was curious about the word of God. Clearly he had heard about Paul and Barnabas and their teaching and he wanted to know more. Thankfully, his curiosity caused him to receive something far greater and more valuable than all that he had - salvation. 
    This reminds me of the reality that salvation is for everyone, not just the poor, not just for those who are struggling. God sees all of our need. He is not distracted by our outward accomplishments because He knows that our soul is not satisfied by these things. Thank God that He sent Paul and Barnabas by the Holy Spirit to this particular city. He knew that that Roman proconsul needed so much more than what he already had - he needed salvation. 
    I love the reality that God is willing to embrace us all no matter our social standing, education, position or accomplishments. He knows that we all need Him. After all we have all come short of His glory and we need Him to provide us with a treasure far greater than what this world has to offer. 
    Second, the Jewish sorcerer who should have known better, tried to prevent his salvation. The good thing is, God did not allow him to succeed. What comes to my mind is the fact that God sees our heart. He knew that the proconsul wanted to hear about Him and He was not going to allow anyone or anything to prevent that from happening. 
    God sees your heart. He knows your desires. He knows what you need. The enemy may try to prevent you from connecting with God and receiving His best for you, but God knows exactly how to ensure that you get His help when you need it. In spite of the enemy’s best efforts, God is bigger and more powerful than any attempt the enemy may make to stop you from receiving God’s salvation and deliverance. 
    God sees. God knows. God cares. God knows exactly how to get to you to help you in your time of need. Nothing and no one can stop God’s love from reaching you. God is all-powerful, all-mighty, more than able. Be encouraged.
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. God loves you and when you reach out to Him, He will not ignore you. His desire to connect with you is even greater than your own. He will push past every obstacle or hindrance to ensure that you receive the salvation He desires for you.

    In Acts chapter 16:23-34, Paul and Silas are in Philippi where they are beaten and thrown into jail. In spite of their pain and discomfort, at midnight, they began to pray and sing hymns to God. Suddenly there was a great earthquake and all the doors to the jail cells were opened and the prisoners’ chains loosed. The keeper of the prison who had been asleep, awoke and saw the doors opened. He thought that the prisoners had escaped and he drew his sword intending to kill himself. But Paul called out to him assuring him that no one had left their cell. The jailer in turn fell down trembling before Paul and Silas asking them what he needed to do to be saved. They told him to believe on the Lord Jesus and he and his household would be saved. He brought them to his home where they preached to him and his family. They believed and were baptised. He also washed their wounds and gave them food to eat.
    I have focused in the past on the whole idea of Paul and Silas singing and praising God in spite of their dire circumstances and the reality of God’s deliverance because their attitude was one of worship instead of complaining. But today I am focusing on the jailer and his story. Interestingly, you would think that the purpose of the earthquake was to give Paul and Silas the opportunity to be set free. However, God used it to bring about a different kind of freedom - the one of a lost soul. It would seem that the purpose of Paul and Silas’ imprisonment was to save this Gentile jailer. 
    It reminds us that God would go to any lengths to bring about our salvation. After all, He already sacrificed His Son to pay the price for our sins so that we would not have to. It was therefore no small thing to sacrifice his disciples’ comfort to bring about the salvation of another. In God’s eyes, that jailer was important.
    Additionally, it is important to note that when that earthquake took place and the prison doors opened, not a single prisoner made an effort to escape. If they had, the jailer would have been punished, even put to death for the escape of the prisoners in his charge. God knew this and did not allow a single prisoner to move. Once again, it wasn’t about anyone escaping but about God proving His love for this one jailer, and the lengths to which He would go to get his attention and to motivate him to receive His gift of salvation. 
    For some of us, when we think about our own lives, if we are honest, we can remember the lengths God went to, just to get our attention. We are that important to Him. He loves us that much. 
    When the jailer realised that no one had made an effort to escape, he immediately came before Paul and Silas, asking them how he could be saved. He must have realised that what had happened was not normal. Somewhere along the line, he seemed to realise that God had a part to play in all of it and he wanted to connect with this God who clearly spared his own life. He knew there was an earthquake. He knew all chains were miraculously loosed and prison doors opened. But he was also forced to acknowledge something even more miraculous - not a prisoner had left their cell. God wanted to get his attention and He did. How far has God gone to get your attention? How did you respond?
    Finally, the jailer knew exactly who to go to ask about salvation. He must have heard Paul and Silas singing and praying to God. As children of God, our lives, in both the good times and the bad, should be the arrow that points people to Christ. We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14 & 16) and we have the answer they need to escape the challenges this world has to offer. God is interested in using both our good times and our challenging ones to lead lost souls to Him. Don’t believe for one minute that that situation you are going through is in vain. God will use both the good and the bad in our lives to encourage someone else. Nothing we go through is wasted.
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. God loves you and will go to any lengths to motivate you to serve Him. And when you turn your life over to Him, He will in turn use you to lead others to Him. 
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    In Luke 19:1-10 we meet Zacchaeus, a rich tax collector from Jericho. Jesus was passing through Jericho and when Zacchaeus heard about it he wanted to see Him. Unfortunately, he was short. He decided to climb a tree in hopes of seeing Jesus as He passed by. When Jesus reached the tree, He looked up, saw him and instructed him to come down because He was going to visit his home. However, those who heard what Jesus planned to do complained that He was going to be a guest at the home of a sinner. Zacchaeus on the other hand, was so overjoyed that he hurried down  from the tree and told the Lord that he would give half of his goods to the poor and if he had taken anything wrongfully from anyone, he would restore it fourfold. Jesus in turn declared: “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (vv.9-10)
    I found this story of salvation interesting for a few reasons. One, Zacchaeus’ tiny stature. He was short but he so desired to get a view of Jesus as He passed by that he decided to climb a tree. I love his determination. He didn’t let his small size stop him from getting a view of Jesus. How determined are we at times to connect with God? Do we make excuses or do we make an effort? We may feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit to stop what we’re doing and spend time with Him. At that point, do we submit to His leading or do we continue doing what we are doing thus deeming it more important than time with our Father? It can be so easy to make excuses. God will never interrupt us if it were not important and sometimes I think He just wants to spend some time with us. 
    Two, Jesus took notice of Zacchaeus. There may have been other people in trees and walls trying to get a glimpse of Jesus as He passed by. The Bible does not say. But Zacchaeus was in a tree and Jesus could have walked right past him, after all, there were so many other people around for Him to notice. But that’s the God we serve. He sees us. Even when others don’t see us or even care what’s going on in our lives, God chooses to take notice. I like to think that God is intentional. He intentionally chooses to take notice of us and to care about what concerns us. He doesn’t ignore us or pretend that we are not there. Others might. But God sees and chooses to pay attention.
    Three, Zacchaeus was not the most popular person in that town. He was a tax collector, the chief one at that. He had unfortunately wronged so many people and this deemed him unpopular, someone that no one wanted to be around because they could not trust him. His track record was not good. But Jesus chose not to focus on his flaws like everyone else. He saw the man and He saw his need. He chose to reach out to him when no one else would. By just inviting Himself to his house, He was able to bring about the necessary change in Zacchaeus’ life. Zacchaeus wanted and needed love just like everyone else and Jesus did not hold back, He freely gave it. Jesus sees you in a way that no one else does. He does not focus on your flaws but on you, the person, and He desires to meet your need. He loves you in a way that no one else can or may be even willing to. 
    Four, Jesus publicly acknowledged Zacchaeus. While people saw him as an outcast because of his profession, Zacchaeus’ desire to make things right, caused Jesus to publicly reverse his outcast status. Jesus reminded the crowd that Zacchaeus was a son of Abraham who had simply lost his way because of greed. He was as deserving of mercy and salvation like everyone else. 
    God is not blind to your faults and flaws. He knows them but chooses to offer the gift of salvation. God knows what you deserve, but He chooses to offer what you need - salvation. Jesus chose to pay the price for our sins so that we would not have to. It wasn’t because we deserve it - because we don’t - but because of God’s immeasurable love for us. Let’s not take His salvation for granted. If He is willing to give it, let’s be willing to receive it.
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. God’s gift of salvation is not dependent on your worthiness but on His love for you. God desires the best for you in spite of your flaws and shortcomings. God loves you. Period. And there is nothing you can do to change that.
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