It seems like we are always trying to get out of something. When you are in school as a child you can’t wait to get out for summer break. When you are in high school or college you can’t wait to graduate and get out on your own. I have been in vehicles before that I was thankful and glad to get out of….one of which I talked about in a previous blog! Speaking of vehicles, I’m sure there are a few tickets we would like to have gotten out of. Some of us are in medical situations that we wish we could get out of. There are many life situations we would like to get out of.
But also, there are times when someone needs to get in.
Reading through Acts 16, we come to the story where Paul and Silas have been thrown into prison. Starting at verse 24, we see where the jailer (who was a Roman guard) was told to put Paul and Silas securely into prison after they had been beaten. He put them in the dark, inner part of the prison and bound their feet in irons.
Paul and Silas, even being beaten, bound and in prison, began praying and singing praises to God—at midnight even! The other prisoners were awake and listening to them. All of a sudden a huge earthquake rattled the foundations of the prison. All of the prison doors were shaken open. Even more amazing, all of the prisoners bonds were also loosened.
All of this commotion awakened the Roman jailer from his sleep. He saw that all of the prison doors were opened. He immediately thought that all of the prisoners had escaped. He drew his sword to take his own life, since he thought they had all escaped on his watch. For a Roman soldier, this was a death sentence.
Paul, seeing what he was about to do, cried out to him to stop. He told him not to harm himself because none of the prisoners had escaped. They were all still there. No one had gotten out.
Ah, but God did not intend this event for Paul and Silas, or even any of the other prisoners, to get out. He intended it for someone to get in, to get in to the family of God.
The jailer saw all that had happened around Paul and Silas and knew it was extraordinary. He most likely knew Paul and Silas’ story. I would think he might have even heard them speaking because they had been in town for a while, and they shared Jesus everywhere! Everything worked together so that the jailer could come into the prison to ask Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved.
God used this earthquake so the jailer and his family and household could see the way in to Him.
The challenge in this passage could be to remain faithful to God through everything. Not only remain faithful, but also remain joyful with praise to God. Make our houses “of praise” sound so good to someone listening that they will be compelled to stay and listen and ask for more.
How can we apply this passage to our lives? Honor God. I am not certain this is a promise that is exactly spelled out word for word in the Bible, but I truly believe that if you honor God, He will honor you. This looks, to me, like what God did for Paul and Silas. Next, praise God. I’m not talking about corporate worship. I’m talking about how we live our lives. We should make more of our lives about praise to God. God is in our whole lives, every moment, on His side. We need to start deliberately including Him in our whole lives on our side.
What does this mean to my faith? I can see that there is no situation where I cannot find something to give praise to God about. He gives joy in the craziest of situations, when no one else would think to praise. It strengthens my faith to know that I serve a God that has power over everything. He is a protector. He held the prison together, with all prisoners intact. This saved the jailers life and allowed him and his house to come to Christ.
Thank You Lord for Your Word, and for showing us how Your grace works. You find ways, sometimes unusual, to draw us in so we can hear Your story and come to believe in You. Help each of us find a little “praise in the prison” type joy that will cause someone(s) to stop and listen and fall before You.
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“25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.” Acts 16:25-26 (KJV)
“[Yet] the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song [shall be] with me, [and] my prayer unto the God of my life.” Psalm 42:8 (KJV)
“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” James 5:13 (KJV)
“And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” Acts 5:41 (KJV)
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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about Him.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ! PeaceWithGod.net
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Blog Image Door, Door lock, A ray of light image. Free for use from Pixabay.
Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 