"Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening." (Acts 16:25)
If you quickly scan over this Bible verse you might think Paul and Silas had a prison ministry and were just visiting to lead a church service for the prisoners.
But a closer look reveals there were no late night visitors in the prison that night, only prisoners. "...and the OTHER prisoners were listening."
Some previous verses give some perspective on the circumstances surrounding these two men who are turning what should be a pity party into a praise party.
"A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks." (Acts 16:22-24)
I've often said that Paul and Silas could pray and praise from the dark depths of the dungeon because they may have been in prison but the prison was not IN them!
But I'd like to take it a step further in thought and present the big idea that these men praised instead of complained because their PURPOSE was greater than their PAIN! Paul was known to communicate that God had "separated him from his mother womb" for a specific purpose!
Paul lived this life with a sense of purpose that was greater than just him. His life was all about OTHERS! That GREATER PURPOSE was evident when after there was an earthquake and the prison doors swung open, Paul and Silas remained in the prison and introduced the jailer to salvation through Jesus Christ which also led to the jailers family being born again!
Paul's PURPOSE was greater than His PAIN!
So it is during this season we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus was born to die! And His PURPOSE for coming to the earth was much greater than the pain He had to endure to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world! Jesus gave His life for "OTHERS"!
Jesus PURPOSE was greater than His PAIN!
I'm thankful not all of life is painful! Living out the purpose for which God created you is both exciting and rewarding. But for those moments of pain, let me remind you of your purpose. Yes God was there when you were being formed in your mothers womb and He has a purpose for your live!
This life is about getting to know God, and discovering why he created you and put you on this earth and then using that purpose to make a difference in the life of OTHERS!
When your PURPOSE becomes greater than your PAIN you can invite OTHERS to your praise party and be involved in changing lives. I promise you, it's both exciting and rewarding!
I'm praying for you! I pray you'll be consumed with knowing God and the purpose He created you for! YOUR LIFE MATTERS!
Running the race to win,
PK
If you quickly scan over this Bible verse you might think Paul and Silas had a prison ministry and were just visiting to lead a church service for the prisoners.
But a closer look reveals there were no late night visitors in the prison that night, only prisoners. "...and the OTHER prisoners were listening."
Some previous verses give some perspective on the circumstances surrounding these two men who are turning what should be a pity party into a praise party.
"A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks." (Acts 16:22-24)
I've often said that Paul and Silas could pray and praise from the dark depths of the dungeon because they may have been in prison but the prison was not IN them!
But I'd like to take it a step further in thought and present the big idea that these men praised instead of complained because their PURPOSE was greater than their PAIN! Paul was known to communicate that God had "separated him from his mother womb" for a specific purpose!
Paul lived this life with a sense of purpose that was greater than just him. His life was all about OTHERS! That GREATER PURPOSE was evident when after there was an earthquake and the prison doors swung open, Paul and Silas remained in the prison and introduced the jailer to salvation through Jesus Christ which also led to the jailers family being born again!
Paul's PURPOSE was greater than His PAIN!
So it is during this season we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus was born to die! And His PURPOSE for coming to the earth was much greater than the pain He had to endure to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world! Jesus gave His life for "OTHERS"!
Jesus PURPOSE was greater than His PAIN!
I'm thankful not all of life is painful! Living out the purpose for which God created you is both exciting and rewarding. But for those moments of pain, let me remind you of your purpose. Yes God was there when you were being formed in your mothers womb and He has a purpose for your live!
This life is about getting to know God, and discovering why he created you and put you on this earth and then using that purpose to make a difference in the life of OTHERS!
When your PURPOSE becomes greater than your PAIN you can invite OTHERS to your praise party and be involved in changing lives. I promise you, it's both exciting and rewarding!
I'm praying for you! I pray you'll be consumed with knowing God and the purpose He created you for! YOUR LIFE MATTERS!
Running the race to win,
PK
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