Passage Read: Acts 16-17
Meditation Verses: 16:27-31
Thought
It is interesting how Paul and Silas respond to the jailer, seeking to spare his life and being so quick and willing to share the Gospel with him and his household. There is no similar concern for the policemen who come later or for the officials who beat them, at least according to what is written here. They were not discouraged by their arrest, their beating or their imprisonment. Instead, they sang hymns into the night. But when the jailer rushed in and assumed the worst, they called out for him to stay his hand. And that was enough for him to ask how to be saved. He obviously knew something of what they had been teaching and singing about. He knew they were teaching about a means to salvation. And because he gave them an opportunity, so they spoke the Gospel to him. The others showed no interest and asked no meaningful questions, but the jailer had stared death in the face and knew he needed assurance about what lay beyond.
Application
I need to be a testimony wherever I go, but I don't need to force a Gospel presentation on everyone I meet. Circumstances will allow me to share more with those who are interested or will give me no opening with those who have no interest. I don't need to fret about that, but can be content with that. But I do need to be filled with delight and desire to know and celebrate Jesus more, and have companions who delight to talk about or celebrate Jesus with me. That helps open doors to those who are curious to know more.