Inner prison
May 24th, 2007
Leslie
And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly troube our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe. Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 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. Acts 16:20-26
Where to begin!? Who was really in the inner prison? Paul and Silas were sharing about God’s grace, and that individual faith in Jesus was necessary for salvation. That would have been a threat to an individual, Jew or Gentile. The magistrates did not want to be bothered with new customs and beliefs that messed with their lives as Romans. Little did they know that it was a deeper issue than that. The God of the universe was messing with their lives as sinners who need a savior. The truth that was spoken by Paul and Silas would have knocked at the door of their inner prison…their hearts and souls.
We can expect to “shake” things up by speaking the truth about God and salvation by Jesus his son. It is amazing to me that people want to stay behind prison walls, alone without the truth. This passage of scripture shows us that when we have a personal relationship with Jesus, he comes with us into the prison of our circumstances. The power of that personal relationship was manifested in the praying and singing that was going on. I do not know if Paul and Silas were praying to get out of that prison…they knew that God had sent them to Macedonia through a vision given to Paul. (Acts 15:9,10) I know that they were seeking God right were they were. That obviously impacted several people around them. After the earthquake, Paul and Silas could have fled, let alone the other prisoners! They were all still there! Better to be in prison with God, then free without Him! The jailer could have lost his life because he let the prisoners escape…according to Roman law. There was a bigger plan for his life that day, he was to be saved, and his household. (Acts 16:31)
This passage is so rich, I feel like I could spend all day here digging into the word…I need to go to work. I want to take to work (the world), my personal relationship with Jesus. I have the chance to come across prisoners everyday. I pray that my life can reflect God’s grace, and the need for a savior. I pray that I will remember what life is like behind the inner prison of a heart without Jesus.
Lord, please help me to remember that You have sent me out today into a culture that cannot live without You. I pray that those who are lost will see a difference in a life that is lived with You. I pray that my heart will be lined up with Your will today. I know that you have planned the place that I am spending my day, help me to pray and rejoice right were I am. I pray that many can be freed from their inner prison and have a personal relationship with You my Lord Jesus Christ.