IMPRISONED!

Image result for picture of a person in jail While reading Acts 16, I loved Paul and Silas's attitude and actions.  They have been stripped and beaten, thrown into prison, an inner cell in fact, and their feet fastened in stocks. They could have had the attitude of the clip art picture of bewilderment and maybe fear.  However, Scripture records that with other prisoners listening, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.  NOW THAT IS A DIFFERENT RESPONSE FOR SURE! I wonder if what may imprison us may be what is going on in the mind while the circumstance is pressing against us?  In this case, I am willing to assume that HEAVEN was also listening, and there was a "violent" earthquake, foundations of the prison were shaken, and the prison doors flew open!  Now that is about a response!  Don't know who the everybody was, but their chains were loosed.  

 Maybe all of Paul's imprisonments and beatings were part of the motivation of 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is GOD'S will for you in CHRIST JESUS." Could that have been a part of the praying and praising of Paul and Silas?  

 Out of the commotion, a jailer and his family come to salvation.  When the magistrates found out Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, 'they were alarmed" for they had beaten, imprisoned, and offered no trial for two Roman citizens.  They were so alarmed that they "escorted them from the prison", and requested that they leave the city.  

 Obviously Paul and Silas had a gigantic trust in the Sovereign LORD GOD.  HE is never hindered by a jail cell, chains, or guards.  Our attitude and our response in the circumstance is what may hinder the HOLY SPIRIT from loosing us. I want out of the circumstance while GOD may desire I experience praise and thanksgiving IN the circumstance.  I continue in the learning curve of being trained by the SPIRIT of GOD.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THOSE SEEING CAN BECOME BLIND

Image
John 9 is the story of the healing of the blind beggar.  Not only is it a marvelous story of the miraculous healing of the man as he is given his sight, but a sad story of the religious of whom Jesus said, "For judgment, I have come into this world, so that the blind will see, and those who see will become blind ." The religious have seen the miracle, even though it has taken place on a Sabbath, and they interview the man and his parents for their stories and understanding. I find it so thrilling that the healed man speaks so articulately and logically with the religious in their "interview" with him.  His statement, " Now that is remarkable!  You don't know where HE comes from, yet HE opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners.  He listens to the godly man who does His will.  Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." What truth he has spoken to the religious wh...
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress...
Read more

A DONKEY SPEAKS!

Image
    Numbers has been full of repetitive accounts of the Israelites and their disobedience.  They have now made several laps around Mt. Sinai, many of the original people have died off, or been killed for their arrogant and presumptuous actions against the LORD, Moses, and Aaron. The overriding truth of the accounts is the merciful grace of the LORD! Moses is in his last days of leadership.  The forty years are coming to an end and they are moving toward a second attempt to enter the Promise Land.  They have been victorious in taking land, and they are moving further into the interior of the land of Moab.  The king and the residents of Moab are "filled with dread because of the Israelites.  The king of Moab, Balak, sends messages to Balaam, who is a sorcerer and is able to to place curses or blessings on others.  King Balak wants to know how to defeat "this horde" that is licking up everything around them.  Of course, he is desirous th...
Read more