David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 16:16-24

As 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. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And 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.

19 But 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. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Her life was a mixture of power grab, manipulation, together with slavery and addiction. She was able to entice and seduce men and women to pay large sums of money to gain her services. Sound like the slave girl mentioned above in Acts 16? Indeed it does, but it applies to any number of persons who make a living for others by their various, and often nefarious ways and means.

Slavery was abolished by law in the United Sates during the days of Lincoln. But despite the Emancipation Proclamation, many still live in slavery today. Sometimes it’s self-inflicted. Often it is coerced and imposed by others. Never is it as simple or easy to conquer: testimony to the reality and terrible impact of sin in the world and people’s lives.

True emancipation is found in Jesus. His message is a freeing message. Paul says so in Galatians 5:1, “It was for freedom that Christ has set you free.” Jesus himself talked about it in John 8, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Ah…there’s the rub: truth. Truth is, sometimes we don’t want to be rid of our slavery. Sometimes we would rather muddle through life beguiled and distracted by the momentary pleasures and short-term relief that is found in such pursuits.

It’s no wonder that when Jesus comes on the scene some people don’t like it. The American Atheists group has a 15-second digital billboard in Times Square which reads, in five-second intervals, “Who Needs Christ During Christmas?” then for five seconds, “Who Needs Christ [the word Christ is crossed out] During Christmas? Nobody” then, “Happy Holidays American Atheists.” At the bottom of each 15-second display is their website, atheists.org.

You don’t think you need Christ if your life is marked by selfish ambition, self-determination, self-reliance, and self-worship. You don’t think you need Christ if you think you don’t need a Savior. You don’t think you need Christ if you think you’re not enslaved by sin. Sadly, however, those who think this way are the people who enslave others, deceive and beguile the weak, and take advantage of the poor and needy.

Paul, Silas, and Luke’s encounter with the slave girl, freeing her from the evil spirit was met with strong opposition. Those who were enslaved by their love for money and a lifestyle enriched at the expense of others, didn’t want Jesus intruding into their lives. Purveyors of all manner of evil enticements have no use for Jesus. He is an intruder to their way of thinking.

There is just one problem with such a way of thinking. We all are accountable to our Creator for our lives, pursuits, treatment of others, and attitude toward God. If we don’t face that fact now in repentance and faith, we will face it on the great Last Day, when we stand before the judge of all. The beauty of facing that truth today is that this truth sets us free. For Jesus is not an intruder with only truth. He is also full of grace. And by his grace we are freed, and enriched in every way.

You might think of Jesus as an intruder at your company Christmas party, or your Saturday night pursuits. If that’s the case, you desperately need him there, so that you are able to experience the truer joy and purer pleasure of his grace and love.