15 October | Teens
«So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”» Acts 16: 31
On a dark night in a Philippian prison, Paul and Silas experienced a moment that would change not only their lives, but also the lives of many others. After being unjustly accused, mistreated and imprisoned, instead of giving in to fear, they chose to sing and praise God, even in chains. And then God intervened: a very strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, the doors opened and the chains of all the prisoners fell off!
When the jailer saw what had happened, he was so frightened that he thought all the prisoners had escaped. Knowing that this could cost him his life, he was about to do something terrible, but Paul stopped him. The attitude of Paul and Silas, and the miracle that followed, led the jailer to ask the most important question there is (which is the title of today's devotional): “What must I do to be saved?”
Paul and Silas' response was simple but powerful: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” This response shows us that salvation doesn't come as a reward for things we do or fail to do: it comes from believing that Jesus was who He said He was: the incarnate God who came to this earth to save us from eternal damnation. If we truly believe that He was our Substitute, that He died in our place, we will be saved!
Take Action
Have you declared that you accept Jesus? Do it out loud now. How do you feel? Do you feel saved? Rest assured: you are saved! Isn't that wonderful?