THE HEART OF JESUS' MESSAGE

THE HEART OF JESUS' MESSAGE


Today we read about
Paul and Silas=
Who were CONTINUING to PREACH
After being ordered to STOP


They were attacked=stripped=
Beaten=imprisoned
And chained


At midnight=
An earthquake SHOOK
The foundations
Of the jail


The chains off=
And the doors sprung open


“WHEN the jailer
Woke up and saw
The prison doors wide open


He DREW his sword
And was about
To KILL HIMSELF


Thinking that
The prisoners had escaped


But Paul shouted........
'Do NO HARM
To yourself
We are ALL HERE'” Acts 16:27-28


And the locks and chains
FELL OFF the jailer too=
When Paul and Silas
Assured him
They wished him NO HARM


What SAVED the jailer
Was NOT
The preached words


But the HEART
OF JESUS' MESSAGE


And the HEART of
JESUS' message
Is COMPASSION
And forgiving love


“The Lord
Is good to all


He has COMPASSION
On all-
He has made” Psalm 145:9


“For the Lord
Comforts his people
And will have COMPASSION
On his afflicted ones” Isaiah 49:13


I will betroth you
To me forever


I will betroth to you
In righteousness and justice
In love and COMPASSION” Hosea 2:19


The JAILER and
His family
RESPONDED WITH LOVE


Caring for the wounds-
SHARING food from their table
And rejoicing
AFTER being baptized


ONLY THE HEART
Of Jesus' message=
Only COMPASSION and love
Can TURN a person
Like that


“As you know-
We count as blessed
Those who have persevered


You have heard
Of JOB'S perseverance=
And have seen
What the Lord
Finally brought about


The world is FULL
OF COMPASSION AND MERCY” James 5:11


Dear Lord=help us
Always to SHARE
Your LOVE AND COMPASSION=
The very HEART
Of YOUR MESSAGE


So that we can
MOVE OTHERS=just like you=
And Paul and Silas


In Jesus' name= and in the name of our EVER COMPASSIONATE FATHER!


Robert P. Wallman
5-18-20




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Patricia Livingston