18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. (From Proverbs 16)
A popular song right now (I myself only know parts of it, and parodies), and maybe this isn't as popular (I'm way out of the loop) as it used to be is Old Town Road. One of the lines I think about often is "Can't nobody tell me nothing." I think about that QUITE often. It seems, at times, it's an anthem, even when not sung, for the generations of people out there. It's even run in to the Church. We come before God, we listen for what we want to hear, and say "I wish so-and-so could have heard that" while completely missing out on what God is speaking to us. When it comes down to it, we're not prepared to hear from God or His word unless through a humble heart. If we know it all, if we understand it all, if we've done it all, we can't hear at all (Read that again, slowly). If we receive God on our terms, we really don't have Him at all. He is Lord! He is the Lord and Master of all, He is the King of Kings, and I am a speck of dust, a vapor in the wind (Oh, Ecclesiastes). All of us, whether we are rich or poor, from low or High station, we are all prisoners until we Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And what that means is not merely acknowledging His existence, but it means TAKING HIM AT HIS WORD. It means following. It means bowing down before Him, confessing and repenting of our sins, being baptized, receiving His Holy Spirit, and then...doing His will! Jesus is not your Lord if you do what you want after confessing Him as Lord. He is Lord if we obey. He says, in no uncertain terms, "IF you love me, you will obey my commandments" (John 14:15). How are you taking God? In all humility, bowing down, or on your terms? Question your motives, and seek His guidance. Acts 16: Paul and Silas in Prison
16As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
19But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.20And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
The Philippian Jailer Converted
25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29And the jailere called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
35But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.”38The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

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