Acts 16 | Taking RisksNäide

Yesterday we saw that God sent an earthquake. He sent it to free Paul and Silas from jail. What a gift of God!

But they did not take advantage of it.

Paul and Silas could have easily made a break for it. The doors were open. This was their chance. They got what they wanted. It served their purposes.

But Paul and Silas chose another route instead. Risking it all, they stayed to minister to a man on the verge of suicide and desperate for salvation. They used the gift God had given them to bless another.

God will sometimes send an earthquake. That earthquake might benefit you. But that benefit might have a further purpose as well, and that’s to benefit another.

God’s blessings are not always for our own primary advantage. In fact, usually they’re not. God’s gifts are more of a both/and. There are blessings God gives to us, and with them God wants us to be a blessing to others. Rather than benefit from blessings and miracles of God and leaving it there, how can we use those blessings and miracles from God for his purpose and glory?

The blessings, miracles, and opportunities God presents us are never meant to be hoarded. Like God did with Abraham, how can God bless others through you when God is blessing you? Will you risk your blessing? Paul and Silas did. The irony is that it led to even greater blessing.