This scripture passage shows us the example set by the jailer and his family. After he accepted Jesus as his personal Savior, his life began to demonstrate the example of love. He took the apostles and washed their wounds, brought them to his house and set a meal before them. This family is not only concerned about themselves. They are willing to live out the love of Christ. In the church, sometimes in our conversations, we tend to "go by the books" and deal with people in a way that can sometimes hurt. Let's pray for the church to be a place for healing, a place where we can wash each other's wounds, and not a place where wounds are created.
In addition, we need to honor and care for the people in need, so the physical needs can be met. The Bible tells us it is more blessed to give than to receive. We hear this truth a lot, but it is rarely practiced. The Chinese families in North America, typically live their lives, if not for themselves, for their children. In fact, when you think of people who say they live for their children, the truth is that they still live for themselves. They rarely step out of their circle of friends to get to know the community they live in. We are part of the community, and have the responsibility to improve society. There are many needs in the city - the low-income and the homeless people who need our help. We need to remember those people, and not just focus on ourselves so we can live a life of giving.
In addition, when we think about the missionaries who have left the comfort of their own home, to preach the gospel in places far away, these missionaries are really in the front-line or battlefield serving the Lord. The church who is behind the scenes need to understand that it is more blessed to give than to receive, not that we help only when we have excess. The early church were still giving when they did not have enough, because they believe that God's faithfulness will cause us to never be in lack. Ask God to help us in our everyday life, not only to receive God's grace, but also to care about the poor, and to remember the work of missionaries all around the world. May the love of Christ flow out abundantly from our lives!
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