What Spiritual Lesson Do You Learn When Ypu Go To Jail

I follow a friend on social media who recently traveled to Greece. She and her husband went to many of the places Paul traveled. They visited the remains of the prison where Paul and Silas were imprisoned (Acts 16:22) and her posts intrigued me.

As I read her thoughts near traveling in Greece, her insights about Paul and Silas in prison resonated.

They were in prison and could have escaped but did not take advantage of the opportunity when it arose. They stayed where they were, and that decision ended upward saving a man's life. Not only did it relieve his physical life, merely he was saved spiritually along with his entire family.

What Is the Context of Paul and Silas in Prison?

Paul and Silas ended up in prison because they were being followed by a female slave possessed past a spirit. She earned money for her owners by fortune-telling. Even though she was stating truth regarding Paul and Silas, and others with them, Paul was put out with her and cast the spirit from her in the name of Jesus Christ.

Her owners were angry because they lost their ability to make coin using the female slave to predict the future.

They seized Paul and Silas and brought them before the authorities claiming they were Jews and advocating customs unlawful for Romans. Even though Paul and Silas were both Roman citizens, they didn't contend and try to utilize a 'get out of jail free' bill of fare.

They were stripped, beaten, and thrown into prison house.

4 Lessons We Tin Learn from Paul and Silas in Prison

1. They praised God while in prison.Even though they'd been beaten and thrown in prison with their feet shackled, they sang hymns and prayed. Their praise in such a bad situation caused those around them to take notice and listen to them.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Acts sixteen:25

2. Their praise not but helped them but also those who listened.An convulsion shook the prison, and the doors flew open up. Everyone's bondage came loose.

Of a sudden, there was such a violent convulsion that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone'south chains came loose. Acts 16:26

3. What they didn't do was important.Roman constabulary required jailers to take personal responsibility for prisoners.

If Paul and Silas (and other prisoners) had bolted when their bondage came loose, the jailer would have possibly been put to death. This is why he placed them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in stocks. By not escaping, they saved the life of the jailer.

The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison house doors open up, he drew his sword and was about to impale himself considering he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Don't damage yourself! We are all hither!" Acts xvi:27-28

4. Their example changed lives eternally.Paul and Silas chose to stay in the difficult circumstance they were in (prison house) when they could have hands escaped suffering. That case drew the jailer to realize there was something different about them and he wanted whatever they had.

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Acts xvi:29

In an incredible human action of discernment, Paul knew they must not run when the bondage came loose, and the prison doors swung open up. He knew God was working and using the bad situation for something adept.

The jailer was saved along with his family.

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you volition be saved – you lot and your household." And then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his business firm and ready a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God – he and his whole household. Acts xvi:31-34

How to Apply These Lessons to Our Lives

There are many lessons to acquire from Paul and Silas in prison and they're applicative to our Christian lives today.

1. Information technology's all practiced.

When we're suffering in a bad situation, our instinct is to escape. Nosotros don't want to experience hurting if we can go out of it.

But our praise to God in times of trouble is genuine. Considering nosotros're doing it knowing He's assuasive the suffering for our expert. Or the expert of others.

It's easiest to praise God when we get the promotion, proposal, or a long-awaited fulfilled hope. It's much harder when we're suffering. Maybe nosotros're in a situation where we don't run into a good ending. We've lost someone we love. Or we're letting become of something we want to proceed.

Enhance the praise when problem comes into our lives because information technology's all skilful.

And nosotros know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called co-ordinate to his purpose. Romans 8:28

two. Authentic worship is powerful.

Like a supernatural earthquake at just the right fourth dimension, God moves powerfully in our lives when our worship is authentic. (No truer can it be than when we're in pain.) We trust Him with every office of our lives. The practiced and the bad.

When we surrender our suffering to Him – knowing it's part of His program – we will find rest in His piece of work.

God sets usa free from our ain prisons. He loosens our anxiety from shackles even when we're unaware we're bound. He heals what can only exist healed past Him.

I trusted in the LORD when I said, "I am greatly afflicted." Psalm 116:10

iii. What we don't do can be important.

Our flesh may desperately want to act, simply when we stay still, we may touch on someone else's life.

Christians are judged by the earth. They await to meet how we will act and what nosotros'll do when we're in a bad situation. Will nosotros bust out the door and head for the hills when times get tough? Or will nosotros seek God and search for His purpose in the circumstances nosotros find ourselves in?

What we don't do tin be important to a lost person keeping tabs on Christian behavior. We all make mistakes and sin, simply nosotros need to call up nosotros're called to a higher standard than the globe and what nosotros don't do is of import.

iv. A good example may change lives.

Paul and Silas set an incredible example of Christianity by staying in prison house when they could accept easily escaped their suffering.

Their behavior in prison affected other prisoners and the jailer.

Consider the case gear up by Paul and Silas in prison and recall our behavior may besides bear on other people. What another sees in us in times of trouble can have a deep affect. They may see how nosotros handle a situation and employ us every bit their example to follow.

My friend mentioned this quote from Joseph Campbell: "The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure y'all seek."

Paul didn't plan to go to prison yet he was willing to submit to God, continuing to praise Him fifty-fifty in shackles. His willingness to suffer and yet find joy in the moment is something we all can utilise to our lives.

More information about the Roman Jailer can be establish here: https://apologeticspress.org/roman-jailers-attempted-suicide/

Melinda Eye Cooper grew up in the Missouri Ozarks but lives virtually Nashville, Tennessee. She and her husband accept three sons, two daughters-in-law, and three cute granddaughters – and a spunky domestic dog named Lincoln!

Melinda writes manufactures and devotions. She also writes fiction and is currently working on a middle-grade fantasy novel. She grew upward in a large family unit, and many of her devotions and stories are inspired from her childhood.

Visit her website hither. You can follow her on Facebook hither or Instagram here.