Hello everyone,
This blog is going to be about story of Paul, Silas, and the Philippian jailor. At the beginning of the story Paul casts out the spirit that is enslaving this woman. However, the Devil doesn’t like losing people therefore the woman’s bosses hear about this and lost a lot of money from it. So, they decided to bring Paul and Silas in front of the magistrates for their wrongdoings. However, is what they did really wrong? They helped release a woman from a spirit that wasn’t from God. This would normally be a great thing, a thing to rejoice about. Instead they were accused of wrongdoing and found guilty, which lead to them being beaten publicly and thrown into jail. I don’t know about you, but that would suck pretty bad if I just casted out a spirit in God’s name and then got beat and thrown in jail for it.
Honestly, I would be pretty pissed at those people and at God. We have to remember though that the Devil is real and hates losing his people and will try to bring you down if you are spreading the kingdom of God. Paul and Silas knew this and instead chose to praise God all night long in their jail cell after being beaten. How hard would that be for you to do that? What happens next is amazing though, there is an earthquake and all the prisoner’s shackles are released and their doors opened. They were given the chance to escape because of God, however as cool as the earthquake is the next part of the story is the most important. The jailor was so full of shame because he thought all the prisoners escaped that he was going to kill himself. Then, Paul said do not harm yourself for we are all here. Why did Paul even care, they threw him in jail for no reason and beat him? How many of us would stop to think about someone who allowed that and not just run away when they had the opportunity? The guard had lost all of his honor, however Paul and Silas stayed to tell him about God who could restore all his honor. The guard, so moved by Paul’s and Silas’s actions that he asked them what he had to do to be saved. They just simply tell him to believe in the Lord Jesus and him and his household would be saved.
This is like so many of us today, we all make mistakes sometimes of no fault of our own. We are filled with guilt and that we have let everyone down just like the jailor. However God wants you to know that He is still there and you do not need to harm yourself or beat yourself up. You can forgive yourself and abide in Him and he will get rid of all your guilt and feelings of letting others down. We tend to make the gospel so challenging sometimes today about all these rules and relegations. However, Paul simplifies it here and just says all you have to do is believe in the Lord Jesus. It is that simple and your life will change forever, yes you will still make mistakes but the guilt hovering over you will no longer exist because He is there for you always!
Merry Christmas to everyone, for the first time in my life I can say I’m having a pool party on Christmas here in Mendoza. I hope you get to spend it with family and have a nice break from other responsibilities!
God Bless You All,
Zach
