Paul and Silas had a rough day. Though innocent, they had been falsely accused, arrested, beaten, humiliated, thrown into prison, and their feet secured in stocks. Acts 17 tells us they were praying and singing praises to God at midnight when suddenly there was an earthquake, the chains fell off the prisoners, and the doors swung open. The jailer woke up and panicked at the sight of the open cell doors. He was about to kill himself when Paul called out he should do himself no harm. No one had escaped, and the man's life would not be required at the hand of his superiors.
Deeply moved the jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?" Paul answered, "Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, you and your whole house." The man believed, rejoiced, and was baptised. He washed the stripes of Paul and Silas, having been whipped terribly. When Paul and Silas were released the following day, their miraculous, amazing story was not nearly over. They went to visit a new born-again Christian Lydia who had offered them hospitality previously. Acts 16:40 reads, "So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed." Who encouraged who? One would have thought Paul and Silas could have used some encouragement because of their terrible experience the previous night. Yet it was Paul and Silas who encouraged the brethren. Lydia and the others were no doubt distressed over the harsh, unfair treatment endured by Paul and Silas. They had been beaten down, but not destroyed. They came out of the prison battered yet were an encouragement to others through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwelt within them.
As A.W. Tozer said, Christianity is not designed for the classroom but for use in real life. A life following Christ is to be lived out on the street, in a prison, during times of pain and tragedy, in spite of unfair treatment, and to encourage others. Paul wrote the exhortation of Philippians 4:4 during house arrest: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" Paul and Silas did not rejoice in physical pain or incarceration, but in the midst of those things they devoted themselves to rejoice in the LORD. He is always worthy of praise, despite our sufferings. He will never leave us or forsake us, knows what we are going through, and provides comfort and peace which passes understanding. It is a peace which cannot be logically explained but only experienced through a life of faith in God.
As I considered how I would conclude this post, this morning I read a Facebook status of a Christian woman. She posted the immortal words of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." This verse was not shared by a person who had just received a promotion at work, received a permanent resident visa, or won the lottery: it was shared by a woman who just heard her father suddenly and tragically passed away. Who was encouraging who? I was the one who was encouraged as I in awe considered the strength God grants to all who stand on the solid bedrock of faith in Jesus Christ and His Word. Our God is a God of all comfort who comforts us in all our tribulation so we may be able to comfort others facing trouble.
Do you experience this comfort which defies description? God offers it freely to all who trust in Him. He graciously grants this divine strength not only so you can receive comfort and be strengthened, but so you can comfort others with the comfort you have received from God. Praise God nothing can separate us from the love and comfort of our glorious Saviour Jesus Christ.
Deeply moved the jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?" Paul answered, "Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, you and your whole house." The man believed, rejoiced, and was baptised. He washed the stripes of Paul and Silas, having been whipped terribly. When Paul and Silas were released the following day, their miraculous, amazing story was not nearly over. They went to visit a new born-again Christian Lydia who had offered them hospitality previously. Acts 16:40 reads, "So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed." Who encouraged who? One would have thought Paul and Silas could have used some encouragement because of their terrible experience the previous night. Yet it was Paul and Silas who encouraged the brethren. Lydia and the others were no doubt distressed over the harsh, unfair treatment endured by Paul and Silas. They had been beaten down, but not destroyed. They came out of the prison battered yet were an encouragement to others through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwelt within them.
As A.W. Tozer said, Christianity is not designed for the classroom but for use in real life. A life following Christ is to be lived out on the street, in a prison, during times of pain and tragedy, in spite of unfair treatment, and to encourage others. Paul wrote the exhortation of Philippians 4:4 during house arrest: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" Paul and Silas did not rejoice in physical pain or incarceration, but in the midst of those things they devoted themselves to rejoice in the LORD. He is always worthy of praise, despite our sufferings. He will never leave us or forsake us, knows what we are going through, and provides comfort and peace which passes understanding. It is a peace which cannot be logically explained but only experienced through a life of faith in God.
As I considered how I would conclude this post, this morning I read a Facebook status of a Christian woman. She posted the immortal words of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." This verse was not shared by a person who had just received a promotion at work, received a permanent resident visa, or won the lottery: it was shared by a woman who just heard her father suddenly and tragically passed away. Who was encouraging who? I was the one who was encouraged as I in awe considered the strength God grants to all who stand on the solid bedrock of faith in Jesus Christ and His Word. Our God is a God of all comfort who comforts us in all our tribulation so we may be able to comfort others facing trouble.
Do you experience this comfort which defies description? God offers it freely to all who trust in Him. He graciously grants this divine strength not only so you can receive comfort and be strengthened, but so you can comfort others with the comfort you have received from God. Praise God nothing can separate us from the love and comfort of our glorious Saviour Jesus Christ.
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