(01/28/11)
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about freedom of choice… the freedom to choose our actions and our behaviors in the midst of trials. As I was writing that devotional, God gave me some insight I wasn’t expecting. He took my focus away from Paul and Silas to the jailer. Let’s revisit this story…
"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 everybody’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.” (Acts 16:25-31, NIV: emphasis mine)
Now let’s discuss the jailer for a moment. When he was in the dark, he was afraid and prepared to kill himself based on fear and what he thought was the truth; but he heard Paul’s voice and asked for the light. Once he was in the light, he was no longer afraid; and he made the choice of salvation. Let’s go over that again. When he was in the dark, he was afraid and ready to make a really bad choice on what he thought he knew. Once he heard the call and asked for the light, he was no longer afraid and he chose God. Now, let’s apply this to our own lives. How often do we sit in the dark feeling fear and despair, making decisions based on what we think is the truth without ever asking God to shed His light on the subject? God’s light shows truth; and in the case of the jailer, the truth was that the prisoners were still there and he no longer had to be afraid. So you may ask, “What is my truth?” Well, I can’t answer that completely because only God knows your situation fully. I can say, however, that there is a truth you can always count on. No matter what is going on, or how hopeless you may feel, God will always be there for you; and just like the jailer, you no longer have to be afraid. So the next time you’re sitting in the dark believing that your situation is impossible, ask God to turn on the light. What you see might surprise you.
"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 everybody’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.” (Acts 16:25-31, NIV: emphasis mine)
Now let’s discuss the jailer for a moment. When he was in the dark, he was afraid and prepared to kill himself based on fear and what he thought was the truth; but he heard Paul’s voice and asked for the light. Once he was in the light, he was no longer afraid; and he made the choice of salvation. Let’s go over that again. When he was in the dark, he was afraid and ready to make a really bad choice on what he thought he knew. Once he heard the call and asked for the light, he was no longer afraid and he chose God. Now, let’s apply this to our own lives. How often do we sit in the dark feeling fear and despair, making decisions based on what we think is the truth without ever asking God to shed His light on the subject? God’s light shows truth; and in the case of the jailer, the truth was that the prisoners were still there and he no longer had to be afraid. So you may ask, “What is my truth?” Well, I can’t answer that completely because only God knows your situation fully. I can say, however, that there is a truth you can always count on. No matter what is going on, or how hopeless you may feel, God will always be there for you; and just like the jailer, you no longer have to be afraid. So the next time you’re sitting in the dark believing that your situation is impossible, ask God to turn on the light. What you see might surprise you.
2 Samuel 22:29 Psalm 119:105
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