give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;
answer me in your righteousness
(Psalm 143:1)
2 Kings 8:1-9:13
Restoration for one widow because Gehazi, one of Elisha's servants, intercedes with the king. [Tangent: is this the same Gehazi whose greed prompted Elisha to give him leprosy (5:15-27)]
Elisha directs one of his company of young prophets to anoint Jehu as king then flee. The prophet told Jehu that the Lord wanted to end the rule and lives of Ahab and Jezebel.
Acts 16:16-40
After baptizing Lydia and her household, Paul continues his evangelism in Philippi. He performs an exorcism on a slave girl. The consequent loss of her ability to tell fortunes so upsets her owner that he reports to the authorities that Paul and Cyrus are advocating customs unlawful for Romans to observe.
Being a Christian, doing Christian things does not impute immunity. They go to prison and are subjected to flogging. They pray and sing hymns.
Suddenly a violent earthquake shakes the prison, throwing open all the doors and unfastening everyone's chains.
Being a Christian, doing Christian things is not restricted to a church building. They witness to a jailer who then seeks baptism.
Notice that they stop and speak to the jailer rather than take the opportunity to escape. The prison doors are open, but they choose to comfort and protect their jailer.
Psalm 143:1-12
Proverbs 17:26
To impose a fine on the innocent is not right,
or to flog the noble for their integrity.
Prayer for Today: O Lord our God, when we are in your sanctuary we can feel your presence, can experience warmth and joy. Remind us in our lives today that the choice to be a Christian extends beyond what happens to us in formal worship. Being a Christian may prompt us to choose to do the unpopular. Amen.
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