Acts 16:23-34 - Loving our enemies
Scripture:
Acts 16:23-34
23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely;
24 and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;
26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened.
27 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!"
29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.
33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.
34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.
NASU
NASU
Thoughts:
As I read of the conversion of the Philippian jailer, it makes me wonder if my response to his plight would have been the same as Paul and Silas? After all, this man not only worked for those who had beaten and imprisoned them, but he had locked them up himself! (verses 23-24) They could easily have kept silent, and allowed him to commit suicide (verse 27). This man had imprisoned them unjustly -- literally thrown them into jail -- why should they care what happens to him?
Thinking in worldly terms, we might consider this a rightful end for a man aligned with evil leaders and himself therefore, a worker of evil. But as Christians, having received the forgiveness of our sins through Christ, how can we not also forgive others enslaved as we once were? Paul calls out to the man to save his life, and then goes further to share the gospel with him (verse 31). This seems like another opportunity for Paul and Silas to stop short. They could easily have thought, we can't let him kill himself, but we don't have to share Christ with him! Let him get what he is due in eternity!
But they desired all men to come to know Christ as savior. Whether they were friends or foes, it didn't matter. They were as ready to share the good news with their persecutors as well as those who received them warmly. How radical is God's love!
Prayer:
Lord, let me love my enemies today. I'm unlikely to be put in prison, but I do run into combative and unfair situations sometimes at work or in my personal life.
Give me love for those who are against me. Let me have compassion for those whose lives are in conflict with the Truth. I pray that I will desire their salvation, rather than their downfall. I know I can't do this in my own strength. Change my heart today, give me Your love for others.
Amen
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