Devotionals

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What Happened at Midnight?
By Robert Schaetzle 1,014 words

‘But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.’ Acts 16:25 [NKJV]

In our growing years thoughts and concerns were probably focused on ability, or how we would measure up to others, our self image or confidence, “Am I good enough to meet the task?” We’d be confronted with this thought many times throughout our life. “Am I being recognized or understood?” We want others, whether family or close friends and acquaintances, to know who we really are, what we feel, why we think that way.
These concerns usually will manifest themselves many ways as we continue to grow and learn from life’s experiences. How do we change and become confident and courageous when confronted with extreme adversities? What makes some people appear to be outstanding individuals and recognized as heroes of faith in the public eye?
Are they endowed by God as ‘super humans,’ unflappable when confronted with life threatening situations?

Is it a pride that comes over us, making us into a Moses, or a Joshua, a George Washington, maybe a General Eisenhower, a Billy Graham, or a missionary as Jim Elliott who was martyred in the jungles of South America? The book of our heroes over time might measure the size of Webster’s dictionary.

Something we’re often not able to understand is that each one here is measured out in God’s design without any special favor, yet in His power, He walks with us through all our circumstances.

What sets some apart from others is heart condition. Until you and I allow God to do open heart surgery upon our soul, our self indulgent ways will not allow us to grow into Christ likeness.
The presence of His Spirit in our heart elevates our ability to recognize God’s grace and calm in the midst of the worst storms that we may encounter.

Acts 16 and sets the stage of what happened when Paul and Silas were in prison singing hymns. The Apostle Paul and Silas were commissioned to go to Philippi, a leading city in the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony. While there they were confronted by a slave girl with a spirit of divination shouting at them. She was doing this for many days and Paul became annoyed and turned to the evil spirit within this girl and said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And he came out that very hour. Acts 16:18.

Now when the girl’s masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they took matters into their own hands; seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities. To shorten the story a bit, Paul and Silas were beaten with rods then put into prison on trumped up charges of proclaiming customs supposedly unlawful, and contrary to accept as Roman citizens.

Suffering because of Faith
The bible elaborates to say they were put in the inner prison, deep down in a dungeon, had their feet fastened in stocks and having a jailer to guard them securely.
One has to question, why was this done, putting them in such tight security. I don’t visualize them to be as ‘enemy #1’ on the Roman Empire’s ten most wanted list.

What would be your thought and what do you suppose your heart would be longing for, if any of you were to be fastened in stocks in the mire and filth of some deep dark dungeon; hurting greatly in pain from being beaten with rods,?

Singing their way Free
‘But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors opened, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. [Acts 16:25-27]

You see in Roman times if any prisoner under Roman custody escaped, that guard responsible was put to death for dereliction of duty. This Roman Government was a just and unmerciful society.

The bible doesn’t elaborate if the earthquake was felt outside the prison walls; there is no mention of any other destruction, when later on it was revealed to the chief magistrates. Then too, the fact everyone’s chains were unfastened leaves to question how this was an isolated occurrence in a very specific location?

‘But Paul cried out with a loud voice saying, “Do not harm yourself for we are all here!” [Verse 28] Amazing isn’t it to recognize there was no mad dash to the nearest exit for escape. Paul and Silas for sure, were under the Lord’s authority and obedience to serve others more than their self preservation.

‘And he called for lights [the jailer] and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. And after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. You and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.’ Acts 16:29-31

Paul and Silas were not wanting to be in prison, but were willing to be used of our lord to bring salvation and hope where it was least likely.
Where your treasure is there will your heart be also. Their treasure was to serve regardless of circumstances, their heart condition did not require Spiritual surgery to obey.
How else could these two men who, put into a dungeon of filth and torture be singing praise to God as though they were celebrating someone’s birthday party? In fact they were to do just that as the jailer and his family came to accept and celebrate a ‘New Birth Birthday Party.’

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