Scripture: Acts 16:25-40
Everyone wants to be free. Free to make their own decisions. Free to do whatever makes them happy.
Paul and Silas were in jail. They had no physical freedom. But because of Jesus Christ their lives were free in Christ. They believed they were in that jail for a purpose, and they used their time there to minister to everyone around them.
Then, when God miraculously freed them from the jail, they didn’t escape! Come on! The first thing any prisoner would do in jail given the opportunity is escape!
But Paul and Silas were not prisoners.
Paul and Silas were ministers of the gospel and God had placed them in that jail for a purpose. When given the opportunity they literally saved the jailers physical life and introduced him to Jesus who would save his life for all eternity.
A prayer of Jesus for his future disciples is recorded in John 17: 14-15. It says, “I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.”
When we have been set free by Jesus, let’s not use our freedom to escape the world, but let’s stay where God has placed us and change the lives of the people right beside us! That is true freedom.
