Serving Those Who Are In CrisisSample

“Seizing the Moment” Have you ever had an opportunity to help someone where immediate action was called for? Do you have the satisfaction of knowing that you acted in time, or the frustration of recalling that the opportunity passed without your intervention? Paul and Silas, prisoners in a Philippian jail, had the experience of saving both the physical and spiritual lives of their jailer because they acted quickly. An earthquake loosened the prisoners’ restraints; the jailer thought they had escaped, thought he would be blamed, and drew his sword to take his life. But Paul immediately called out, “we are all here,” and the jailer put away his sword. His physical life was spared. Then, the jailer asked, “what must I do to be saved?” The two men responded immediately, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” The man was in a teachable moment; Paul and Silas seized that moment, and the jailer’s spiritual life was saved. Having been imprisoned for a time, Paul and Silas might have taken care of their physical needs first, but they didn’t. Teachable moments don’t last. The next time you have a chance to help someone but need to act quickly, will you remember Paul and Silas, and seize the moment?