"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
Acts 16:30 has this verse where a jailor comes trembling and falling before two prisoners asking this question - Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Well, what in the world would have caused a jailor to fall before a prisoner asking (of everything in this world) this question about how he could be saved. To me it would make more sense if the prisoner was asking the jailor for a way to be saved. But here the scenario is the other way round.
This jailor had been ordered to keep a close watch on these prisoners. This jailor was aware of the fact tht these prisoners had been stripped and beaten earlier that day. This jailor was also aware of the fact that these very prisoners were severely flogged. Probably the jailor had watched them as they were stripped and beaten and flogged. Well, he was surely there when they threw these prisoners in the prison. Probably the jailor had helped in the throwing part. This jailor had made sure that the prisoners were locked in the inner cell (special cell for bad prisoners, i guess). This jailor with his own hands had fastened the prisoners' feet in the stocks.
From the looks of it, it sounds like the jailor eyed them as pretty dangerous. Well, what caused the turn of events?? The prisoners seemed to be in a pretty tight spot with no way of escape and the jailor had no intention of ever letting them get away unless he wanted to lose his job. And the jailor has no such wish cos he had a family back home to support and he wasnt going to do anything that would come in the way of keeping the orders that he had got from the higher authorities.
Well, the big question here is what made the hunter the hunted? Well, this is something that really intrigues me and baffles me and most of all - challenges me, and my prayer as i write this is that it challenges you too.
The prisoners after having been made a public spectacle............ guess i forgot to mention that they had been beaten up and attacked by the public before the stripping and flogging by the authorities in the place................... well after all the beating, flogging, the insult and the pain, these two prisoners in their inner cell with their feet in the stock start praying and singing hymns. Well, this makes no sense does it? I mean imagine a difficult situation i have been, like I just wake up to find my alarm hasnt gone and Im late, I go running to bus stop and find out that the bus has just left and then i get a call from my team lead who is upset that ive just got late. Would i sit and start praying and singing hymns?? Well, if ive not been doing this so far, I better begin. because this is what makes the hunted the hunter. This is what turns the situation 180 degrees.
In a hard time, in the midst of a tough situation if i can turn my focus from the situation i am in towards God, well, that is what can make a difference both in my life and in the lives of those around me (including the jailors in my life!!).
Well, back to what happened with the jailor and the two prisoners, what happened next is history. There was a earthquake so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken. The prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. The jailor is so sure that the prisoners and he is so upset about what the consequences would be that he decides to take his life and just as he is going to kill himslef he hears Paul, who is one of the prisoner shout - "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!". And this causes the jailor to come trembling and on his knees to the two prisoners who were two disciples of Jesus asking - "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
It seemed like the disciplea were loosing. They seemed to be in a defeated situation. But they decide to turn their focus on God and start praying and singing songs and God intervenes and the situation turns around and out into a victorious one. In a tough situation, in a sad situation, in an uncomfortable situation, in an annoying situation, in an irritated situation................. turn your focus towards situation.......... just realise its start praying and singing hymns and God would intervene to turn the situation into a victorious one. Dont be discouraged if the situation does not turn according to your timing. Through all the attack, the stripping, the flogging, the beating, even as things get worse and you are thrown to the inner cell, just keep on keeping your focus on God and keep on praying and singing hymns and God will definitely intervene to make the situation into a victorious one.
Before I end there is something that i want to mention. God has blessed me with a wonderful mom who is both very God fearing and very understanding and at any time of the day i can call her with any problem I have and she reminds me of two things very often. One, Nothing happens in the lives of God's children without God's permission. Two, if God has permitted this to happen in my life he would definitely turn it for my good (because everything works for good in the lives of those who love God and are called according to his purpose).
So, always remember to TURN YOUR FOCUS TO JESUS cos he is always in control and He Is Always On The Throne!!!
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