(Acts 16:24-25 NKJV) Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. {25} But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
Paul was no stranger to adversity. He was shipwrecked, stoned and left for dead, bitten by a poisonous snake and the list goes on.
In the verse above he had been thrown in jail for preaching the gospel of Jesus. What I’d like to focus on today is how Paul & Silas reacted to this seemingly terrible situation.
First, though, I want us to think about how we would react to being thrown in jail for something like preaching the gospel. How would we behave? Would we moan and whine, wondering why this had happened to us, or would we rejoice and ask God how He would want us to handle this situation?
So let’s get back to Paul & Silas. They had been cruelly tossed into jail with their feet in stocks. But while they were in there they didn’t waste their time crying and complaining. Instead, they prayed and sang to God!
Ultimately, an earthquake took place that broke the doors of the prison cells. Through this turn of events, Paul & Silas were able to share the gospel with the prison guards and many people received Christ as their savior because of it.
Could we say that we would do the same? I know that God has been working on my attitude for many years and I’m thankful for the work He has done in me. But I have in no way arrived. There is still much work to be done in me… that’s for sure.
Let God check your heart and then ask yourself if you could sing songs and pray in a situation such as this.
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
401-377-5400
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