Acts 16:30-31 English Standard Version
30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
An event happened to this jailer that brought him to a point where he asked the vital question and received the simple answer. Simple answers are always best when the lost ask that vital question.
My moment was much different than the jailer’s. We all have a moment when we can see a need for change especially when we feel helpless to achieve it on our own.
My older brother was removed from the family because of violent unacceptable behavior. Mom and dad had lost control over his behavior. He was 16 and I was 8 at the time.
Eight years later I found myself falling into the same pattern of uncontrollable anger. I had no control over my anger. I didn’t even know why I was angry all the time. I was concerned that the fate of my brother would fall on me next.
One Sunday at the altar call I found myself praying my first ever prayer to a God I did not know and did not understand. I was not even sure it was a prayer.
“I don’t want to be like this.”
At that moment my hand went up and my anger drained away from me and has never returned.
Understand this event happened sixty years ago. I am only left with vague recollections of the feelings I had in that moment. My analytical mind has tried to understand all the implications of that moment and I am reconciled to the fact that I did nothing more than open up my heart in that moment and say what I really felt. God did the rest.
I didn’t understand how it happened or why it happened, I just accepted that it did happen.
I did not know what was going to happen next, what to expect, or what to do. All I knew was that God showed Himself capable of causing a change in my attitude through no will of my own.
I have learned much about this God that loved me enough to do that for me over those sixty years and I have come to this point where I must ask this of you;
Can you honestly open your heart to God and see what He might do for you?