People call it many things. Being born again, being saved, asking Jesus to come into your heart, accepting Christ. Whatever you call “salvation”, if you have experienced it, you would have to agree it has changed your life. Most would say it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to them. The best decision they ever made.
In number two of our “Women in the Bible” series of devotions, today I want to share some things with you about a young lady we only see once in scripture called “A Certain Damsel”. Let’s read the verses, then dissect her story a bit, shall we?
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
Acts 16:16-20
The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew [them] into the marketplace unto the rulers,
And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
The lost damsel
- People in the world profited on this lost damsel’s condition. She brought her masters much gain by soothsaying, as she was possessed with an evil spirit. These people literally made money off of and exploited her lost-ness. But think about this: how much money, or power, or whatever did the world gain on your lost-ness before you accepted Christ? What did you buy that you would never dream of spending God’s money on now that you are saved? Where did you go? Who did you vote for? What laws were passed because you didn’t stand up against them? My friend, if you are still lost, the world is profiting on your lost-ness in some way. Satan enjoys the power he feels when we make choices in sinfulness.
- Even in her lost state, the damsel knew if she was going to have a changed life she needed to be around godly people. Lost people (SHOULD) recognize there is something different about saved people. Even in my lost condition years ago, I knew if I wanted a changed life I should go to Church. I didn’t know all the details, but I knew that I could surely find solutions to my problems if I could just get closer to Jesus.
The saved damsel
- When she got saved her life & lifestyle changed! Her old habits and way of making a living were gone. This is natural. She was not some special case of hyper-Christianity. When you ask Jesus to make your heart his home, you WANT to clean your life up. He helps you with that desire, and the ability to do so. You no longer feel good about committing sin. You feel out of place in places you once felt at home. What was fun will no longer hold an appeal to you. Don’t worry, God will send you better places to go, and give you more joy than you ever had in your lost condition. 1 Peter 1:8
- The world didn’t like the changes they saw in the young lady. Don’t be surprised if people who once thought you were “cool”, no longer spend much time with you after you have a relationship with Christ. When you are living a Christian lifestyle, others around you who are worldly may start to get convicted, or feel guilty about their sin. While this is a good thing, and means you are a godly example to them, it can cause relationships to become strained. Prayer can solve a multitude of problems! God can work out any circumstances. He can even make a way for your friends and loved ones to get saved also.
