As Paul and Silas (Acts 16) pursued obedience to God, He already started using them in wonderful ways. The moment we elect to obey and follow the Lord, He immediately begins to use us.
Lydia was the first result and the first convert and some commentators say that she was probably the first convert to the faith from the European part of the world. So there is the very real possibility that through this encounter the Gospel got into Europe and the rest is history.
Then they find themselves in prison and God sends an earthquake to release them and all the other prisoners. This sets them up for a meeting with the jailer – the purpose of the whole trip.
It’s hard to believe that all the challenges up until this point had brought them to the destiny moment that God had ordained. The jailer is armed and filled with fear and suicidal. We would hardly imagine this was a good time to tell him the Good News. But often, when people are at their lowest, it is the very thing they need.
Acts 16:29-30 The jailer then called for lights and the jailer brought them out of the dungeon and then the jailer asked the following: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Paul and Silas had the privilege of leading this man and his family to faith in Christ. Then an amazing thing happens, the jailer himself comes and washes their wounds. You never know who God will send across your path to wash your wounds and bring healing to your life. It did not stop there. At this hour of night the jailer makes them a meal and feeds them.
As a family involved in ministry, I remember my father telling me that if we would care for and look after the people He entrusts to us, we would never lack and never go hungry. The grief and the trauma was replaced with rejoicing.
Acts 16:34 ‘How he (the jailer) and his household rejoiced because all were now believers!’
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