Choose JoySample

DAY 46 - JOY TRANSCENDS PRISON

Reflection: Acts 16 is a fascinating account of supernatural confrontation, deliverance, and freedom. And of course joy.

Paul and his companions have arrived in Phillipi and are preaching the Gospel, making disciples, and instructing them. A slave with a demonic spirit starts following them around, yelling about their identity and purpose. Paul shows remarkable restraint, tries to keep his head down, and ignores the disturbance. He's making good progress in reaching local people and doesn't want to get into any fights in this major Roman colony.

But his patience wears thin, and he turns to the woman one day, and casts out the demon in the name of Jesus, setting her free but also removing the illicit capacity for some insight into the future. Interesting that Paul did not go looking for demons to confront, and only acted, it seems, when there was no other option.

We're glad for the woman, but it does unleash retribution from her 'owners' and the whole city, who take the opportunity to persecute these meddling outsiders, eventually stripping them, beating them, and throwing them into prison.

But Christians are not meant to be the victim of circumstance. Although bodily imprisoned, spiritually Paul and his companion Silas remain free. (Luke, who was present and wrote this account in the first person, escapes arrest, possibly because he is not a Jew). They are 'praying and singing hymns' late into the night, taking to heart Jesus' advice to 'rejoice and be glad' when persecuted (Matthew 5:11-12).

This joyful, faith-filled expression, while in chains, again enforces the spiritual authority of these beaten believers, and the chains fall off and prison doors fly open. The jailer goes from planning to kill himself to being saved along with his whole family, and is filled with joy.

Notice that on this occasion, the purpose of this miraculous release is not physical escape. Instead, it's a sign to all that chains cannot restrain the mission of God's people. That as followers of Christ, we are not hapless victims, but carry earthshaking authority. That our joy in suffering may well lead to someone else's joy in being saved.

Choose joy: Consider your most trying circumstance and choose to pray and sing praise in the midst of it. Watch and see what God will do.