SCRIPTURE READING: ACTS 16: 16-39
FOCUS: “31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.” (Acts 16: 31-32)
MEMORY VERSE: “29. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30. But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” (Mark 10: 29-30)
It is instructive to observe that when the jailor came to attend to Paul and Silas, they spoke the word of the Lord to him and his entire house. At a time when they could have been filled with rage on account of the pain and unfair treatment they had just received, their priority was still to speak the word of the Lord and win souls for the kingdom. Despite the divine intervention, their goal was still to advance the interest of heaven.
Friend, when everything is said and done, may it be said that your priority was the kingdom. May it be said that you prioritized heaven’s gain over and above your fleeting pleasures and benefits. When you come to those moments when it makes every sense to celebrate what heaven has done for you, may it be said that you paid more attention in what heaven could gain through you. May your eyes always be on kingdom gains.
It would have been expected that Paul and Silas should be offended by the role the jailor played in getting them into prison. They were entitled to negative emotions on account of what he did to them, but as they came out, bitterness and rage did not get in the way of what heaven could achieve in that moment. No matter how offended you feel, never let the offences and negative emotions to get in the way of heaven’s gain.
Seek the gains of heaven no matter the circumstance you find yourself in. Seek the gains of heaven no matter what men did to you. Seek the gains of heaven no matter the negative experiences that want to get in the way. Seek the gains of heaven no matter how much of your own personal gains you are yet to attain. Seek the gains of heaven no matter how much gains heaven is yet to release to you. Seek heaven’s gain.
Paul and Silas eventually left the prison. They did not remain there forever. They sought heaven’s gain, and they also gained their freedom. As you seek heaven’s gain, you will not miss heaven’s reward.
FURTHER READING: MARK 10
DECLARATION:
- I choose to prioritise heaven’s gain, in Jesus’ name!
