Daily Scripture Threshing for Thursday, June 2, 2022
Today’s Text: Acts 16:19-40
Key Verse: Acts 16:25 (KJV): “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
The world is now witnessing its worst unrests ever in history. Russia is at war with Ukraine. Nigeria is at war with itself and America as well. It reminds one of the Bosnian civil conflict between 1992 and 1995: A case of a nation torn apart in three religious factions—and worsened by sectarian ideologies of Muslim Bosniaks, Catholic Croats, and Orthodox Serbs, which then started waging war against one another in a struggle for preeminence like they shoot in our streets in America and behead the innocent in Nigeria. Like them we live amid terrorism, massive bloodletting, skyrocketing suicide, million of people displaced, and millions of children orphaned, or killed, and countless women raped. But something extraordinary happened in Sarajevo that changed the story of the war, and affected the whole world. Amid this ugly situation and darkness came a strange sound that broke the evil rain of darkness.
Does God not want us to trust and praise Him in all circumstances? O, no doubt, He does. The Bible tells us so. A musician from Bosnia and Herzegovina called Vedran Smailović probably knew this truth. And so God moved him to do the only thing he knew how to do. While the destruction and killings were goin on, he dressed himself in full traditional attire and started playing his cello amid the ruins and fires in a street. Surprisingly, grieving and starving people gathered to echo some dirge of truth to one another. This became an instrument in the hands of God to end the war, and to restore hope and healing to the people. Friends, faith can sing in adversity.
If you allow yourself to connect the unstoppable power of making melody to the Lord despite the ruins all around us. We are here reminded of Paul and Silas songs in jail. They had stocks on their hands and feet but they gave their praises to God. No stock or prison door could withstand the power of praise released by them. Your siege and battles will not be able to stand in resistance to the voice of your songs. It’s not about the cello: it is the power of God released through the praise of His people.
Quote for the Day: “When we learn to do what God loves and what the devil hates, we shall witness what God makes of midnight moments.” (Simon Olatunji)
Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank You for Your word today. I thank You because You teach me to sing, and fill my mouth with melody. I leap upon this power and declare an end to every ancient siege in my life and family — in Jesus’ name. Amen.
With all my love and prayers,
Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.
Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)
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[Daily Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide of The House of Prayer Evangel Church USA distributed for free use by individuals, small groups, families, and Christian churches]
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