Jump Start # 3945
Acts 16:25 “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”
I love this verse today. I wish I could say that I’d do the same, but I wonder. The actions of these two impacted many others. Paul and Silas had been beaten with rods. The text tells us “many blows.” Then they were thrown into prison and their feet chained. Hurting, scared, likely receiving no medical attention, the worse of conditions they prayed and they sang hymns. That is amazing.
I think I’d be curled up in a corner, whimpering and silently praying to God. Not these two disciples. They prayed and they sang and it was loud enough that others could hear them. And, when the jail doors opened because of an earthquake, everyone remained where they were. No one ran. Amazing impact and reaction the other prisoners.
We had Tim Stevens a few days ago helping our congregation to excel in singing. We sang a lot of hymns over the course of those few days. Love the work Tim does. I referred to this passage one night as we began. It has stayed with me ever since.
It’s hard to sing when you don’t feel well, especially when you are hurting. It’s hard to sing loud when you easily may have some broken bones and open wounds. The outside was not affecting the insides. The outside body of Paul and Silas was hurting, but the inside spirit was strong and focused.
Put yourself in that jail cell. Wear the shoes of Paul for a moment. No song books. No song leader. No pitch pipe to get the right note. Simply from your heart, from your mind, what hymns do you think you would sing? Have you ever thought about that? No one is telling them to do this. They didn’t have to do that. But, they did.
Here is my quick list of songs that we sing that came to my mind:
GOD IS SO GOOD. He is. He is even after you have been beaten with rods. That hasn’t changed the goodness of God. He is even when you are sitting in a dark prison cell with your feet in chains. He is even when it seems the world is against you. God is good. What happens on the external is no reflection of the love, promises and care of our God. He has forgiven you when you did not deserve it. He has never left you. And, there in a dark, lonely place, forgotten by most, God remains good and true. GOD IS SO GOOD.
FAITH IS THE VICTORY. It would seem that the opposition had the upper hand. Beaten, in chains in a prison, there wasn’t much Paul could do. But, faith has always been the victory. The soldiers would not win. Faith wins. Faith conquers death. Faith parted seas and shut the mouths of lions and quench fiery flames of opposition. Faith made Jericho’s walls come tumbling down. Faith saw an empty tomb of Jesus. Faith trusts God. Faith knows that the Lord wins.
MY JESUS, I LOVE THEE. God has never disappointed us. God has never let us down. God has never failed to be there. God has never broken a promise. He loves even when those iron prison doors slam shut. He loves even when hatred fills the eyes of others. He loves even when it seems all doors are closed.
THANK YOU, LORD. Thank You for what You have done. Thank You for who You are. Thank You for what You have promised. Thank You for being with us. Thank You for mercy and grace. Thank You for giving us a second chance. Thank You for using us in Your kingdom. Thank You.
What songs would you have included? Songs from a prison. Songs from the heart.
Roger