Monday, October 16
Acts 16:22-34
The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God – he and his whole household.
Devotional:
When we are suffering for the Name of Christ, do we respond with hymns of praise? Do we respond with prayer? After all, God is the only one who can rescue us. Are we a witness to those around us as we respond with thanksgiving and joy in the midst of trial? I think we all strive to respond this way, but it certainly isn’t easy. Yet, freedom! That is what Paul and Silas experienced when they responded in such a fashion. Understand though, Paul and Silas didn’t pray and sing so that they might merely be physically set free (they weren’t overly concerned about their own freedom). Rather, they were praising God for how good He is and they were concerned for the spiritual freedom of those around them. Are we willing to consider the glory of God and the freedom of another’s soul, as being of greater value than our personal comfort?
Prayer:
Father, I need Your perspective. I don’t want to suffer. But please help me to point others to you when I do endure trials of many kinds. Help me to count it all joy that I may bring honor to Your Name. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Application:
GIVE yourself to God in a new way today by serving the people around you. Look for, and seize, God-given opportunities to selflessly help others by encouraging, sharing Scripture, listening, hugging, praying-with, or simply lending a hand…even if it comes at the cost of your own personal comfort.