Then after his conversion we see a different man, a man now on a mission for His Savior, a man who made it his life work to spread the gospel of Jesus throughout the world. This same man who hunted down Christians now is starting churches throughout Asia. This man who worked at the pleasure of the Emperor of Rome would later be thrown in a Roman jail at the request of that same Emperor. What an exchange we witness in the book of Acts! Everything he was, he was no more. His passion, his priorities, his citizenship, everything changed after meeting Jesus Christ.
After becoming a Christ-follower Paul's life was filled with joy, but not with pleasure. His life before Christ had offered him a buffer against life's hardships. His life after Christ consisted of him being persecuted for being a believer. Check out this partial list that Paul gives us, "I have been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked." (2 Corinthians 11: 23-27) Still want to claim that being a Christ-follower is the ticket to health, wealth and a life of good fortune?
All of this leads to a story about Paul that has challenged and inspired me for many years. It is the account of Paul and Silas and the night that their prison became their mission. Here is the backstory of that night . . .
While going to temple to pray, Paul and Silas were met by a female slave who had an demonic spirit that predicted the future. She earned her owners a great deal of money with her fortune-telling. After meeting Paul and his group she started following them proclaiming, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." (Always thought this was a strange declaration by a demonic spirit but we see God's hand in using even powers of evil to accomplish His plan.) She followed them for many days and finally Paul had had it. He turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. This encounter did not go unnoticed by her owners who quickly realized their cash cow was gone. They grabbed Paul and Silas and brought before the local authorities. They falsely claimed that Paul and Silas were causing a riot against the Roman government with their preaching. A crowd quickly gathered and joined in chanting for Paul and Silas to be punished. The local authorities ordered them to be stripped, beaten with rods, and then thrown into prison with strict orders to be guarded carefully. The jailer had them put in chains for the night and promptly retired for the evening.
Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake and the foundations of the prison were shaken. All the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose. The jailer awoke and when he saw the doors were open he drew his sword and prepared to kill himself because the thought the prisoners had escaped. At that moment, Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" (Why were they all there? Because they had been influenced by Paul and Silas prayers and worship.)
The jailer was overcome, and begged them to tell him how he could be saved. Paul and Silas explained that if he believed in the Lord Jesus, he would be saved - he and his household. At that hour the jailer took them to his home, washed their wounds and then he and all his household were baptized. He fed them a meal and was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God - he and his whole household. (Acts 16: 1-34)
Paul and Silas chose a radically different response to their trials and persecution that I think I would. So many times when I'm faced with challenges and impossible situations I start looking for a way out. If God provides that - great! If not, I'm still looking for a way out - with or without His help. But that's not how Paul and Silas behaved, they chose to embrace their trials, giving thanks and worshiping after being beaten and then placed in chains. And look at what they do when their situation changes, their chains fall off - the doors that kept them captive fly open, and what did they do? They stayed! Their thoughts were not about their own trials and situation, their thoughts were how this situation could help advance the Kingdom.
I've noticed that one of the effects of facing trials for a great length of time has been that my circle of influence and passion are reduced substantially. My world starts to close in and my thoughts become more self-driven, no longer looking for ways to serve but focused on looking for a way out. Yet we know from the story of Paul and Silas that this perspective is not what God would have me choose. He desires for me to stay connected to Him, keeping my radar alert for divine appointments that He places in my path, each and every day.
Instead of focusing on my own situation, His desire is for me to live beyond myself. That is why Jesus said that the two greatest commandments were to Love God and to Love my neighbor as myself. That is the opposite of what I want to do when I'm trying to navigate challenges that are overwhelming my daily thoughts. I'm looking out for me, let the other guy figure out his problems. Yet that is exactly what Jesus is saying that I'm supposed to do, in good times and in bad.
This is obviously not an area that I can claim permanent victory in my life but I do strive to remember that God desires for me to stay on mission, even in the middle of my darkest trials. His love for me is the reason I choose to live beyond my own challenges and seek to advance His Kingdom. What prison is keeping you captive today?
