Only God…

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and 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 bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And 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 and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. 
But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. (Acts 16:25–40)

This is one of those “only God” stories. The time of the earthquake, the shaking opened prison doors, the Christian prisoners stayed put, the jailer was protected (losing prisoners was an automatic death sentence), and not only that, he was given faith and saved — a changed man.

To top it off, the people who persecuted these Christian men decided to free them. But what did Paul do? He demanded they be treated according to their law that said Roman citizens should not be treated that way. They didn’t go out as they were told.

Right now, in our country Christians can be charged for breaking a law that protects certain kinds of sin. Perhaps we should spend more time praying and singing to God? 

Lord, You are perfectly able to protect Your people from unfair or illegal treatment. Yet we should pray for Holy Spirit boldness rather than stay silent in fear of being tossed in jail or worse. I’m thinking that silence could cause me to miss opportunities to see jailers (for instance) experience Your amazing grace. If I don’t see You in action, should I be wondering why not?