December 12, 2012
The last time Paul was in prison the angel led him out through the closed doors. This time the doors were wide open and they could have walked out completely in their own power and without any assistance. But that wasn't God's plan. So, they stayed put right where they were—in prison. They didn't run and they didn't hide.
The jailer awakes and assumes the prisoners have all left. He was ready to kill himself when Paul shouted, "Don't hurt yourself! We are all here." The jailer was astounded. He knew the story. He knew that Paul "escaped" last time through closed gates. That is why he put Paul in a center room and pinned his feet down in stockades. And now the doors were wide open and the prisoners were still there?!? You see, God doesn't want us doing things in our own power or we would be the ones getting the honor and glory. NO! He will share HIS glory with no one! The jailer recognized the absolute miracle that all were still there. He knew it could only be because of divine action. The jailer ran inside shaking with fear and fell down before Paul and Silas asking, "What must I do be saved?" They said to him, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." (Acts 16:31) The jailer did and he and his family were saved.
Before he and his family were baptized, the jailer knew there was something he needed to do. There was a wrong he needed to make right. He knew there were amends he needed to make. So, he cleaned the wounds of Paul and Silas that were wrongly inflicted upon them. Then he and his family were baptized. His actions weren't what saved him. Only God's grace can do that. But once he was saved, he knew there was something he needed to make amends for before he could grow in his new found faith. That's the way it works. When we receive God's grace, we want to make amends.
Paul and Silas were in jail, but they were exactly where God wanted them. His word went out and people were saved. How cool that God wanted to make a difference in the jailers life and he took extreme measures to make it happen. We believe with all our hearts that we have been put into our lawyer's life for this very purpose. Oh LORD, may it be so. May our lives bring honor and glory to you.
The next morning the Roman officers sent the police to tell the jailer, "Let these men go free." The jailer told them to go in peace because they were now free. Kind of funny. God had freed them already, it wasn't man who set them free. We are still bound by this lawsuit legally, but we are already free! Praise the Lord!!! Paul and Silas were given permission to walk away from their physical jail but they said no. Acts 16:37 - "They beat us in public without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens. And they threw us in jail. Now they want to make us go away quietly. No! Let them come themselves and bring us out." When the Roman officers heard what they said they were afraid. They went and told Paul and Silas they were sorry and took them out of the jail and asked them to leave the city. Paul and Silas left the jail; went to Lydia's house; encouraged the other believers; and then left. Accountability happens. They were publicly accused and they were publicly released and cleared of any wrong doing.
We have been falsely accused publicly. We want to be declared innocent publicly as well. May it be so, LORD.
Addendum: 3/10/16 ~ Being declared innocent publicly used to be important to me. It really isn't important to me any longer. Yes, it would be nice, but it is not important. Our lives bear witness to the truth—and that is enough.
Next Entry: An Opportunity To Serve
The last time Paul was in prison the angel led him out through the closed doors. This time the doors were wide open and they could have walked out completely in their own power and without any assistance. But that wasn't God's plan. So, they stayed put right where they were—in prison. They didn't run and they didn't hide.
The jailer awakes and assumes the prisoners have all left. He was ready to kill himself when Paul shouted, "Don't hurt yourself! We are all here." The jailer was astounded. He knew the story. He knew that Paul "escaped" last time through closed gates. That is why he put Paul in a center room and pinned his feet down in stockades. And now the doors were wide open and the prisoners were still there?!? You see, God doesn't want us doing things in our own power or we would be the ones getting the honor and glory. NO! He will share HIS glory with no one! The jailer recognized the absolute miracle that all were still there. He knew it could only be because of divine action. The jailer ran inside shaking with fear and fell down before Paul and Silas asking, "What must I do be saved?" They said to him, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." (Acts 16:31) The jailer did and he and his family were saved.
Before he and his family were baptized, the jailer knew there was something he needed to do. There was a wrong he needed to make right. He knew there were amends he needed to make. So, he cleaned the wounds of Paul and Silas that were wrongly inflicted upon them. Then he and his family were baptized. His actions weren't what saved him. Only God's grace can do that. But once he was saved, he knew there was something he needed to make amends for before he could grow in his new found faith. That's the way it works. When we receive God's grace, we want to make amends.
Paul and Silas were in jail, but they were exactly where God wanted them. His word went out and people were saved. How cool that God wanted to make a difference in the jailers life and he took extreme measures to make it happen. We believe with all our hearts that we have been put into our lawyer's life for this very purpose. Oh LORD, may it be so. May our lives bring honor and glory to you.
The next morning the Roman officers sent the police to tell the jailer, "Let these men go free." The jailer told them to go in peace because they were now free. Kind of funny. God had freed them already, it wasn't man who set them free. We are still bound by this lawsuit legally, but we are already free! Praise the Lord!!! Paul and Silas were given permission to walk away from their physical jail but they said no. Acts 16:37 - "They beat us in public without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens. And they threw us in jail. Now they want to make us go away quietly. No! Let them come themselves and bring us out." When the Roman officers heard what they said they were afraid. They went and told Paul and Silas they were sorry and took them out of the jail and asked them to leave the city. Paul and Silas left the jail; went to Lydia's house; encouraged the other believers; and then left. Accountability happens. They were publicly accused and they were publicly released and cleared of any wrong doing.
We have been falsely accused publicly. We want to be declared innocent publicly as well. May it be so, LORD.
Addendum: 3/10/16 ~ Being declared innocent publicly used to be important to me. It really isn't important to me any longer. Yes, it would be nice, but it is not important. Our lives bear witness to the truth—and that is enough.
Next Entry: An Opportunity To Serve
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