Listening

We are currently following Paul’s second missionary journey. There is a link in the “sites” section that will allow you to interactively track his journey.

Acts 16
25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”


Listening. I can understand that Paul and Silas are praying to God. Given the fact that they had been unjustly beaten for helping a young girl (check out Exasperated in the “archive” section), I might have been “praying” too. My conversation might not have been as gracious as their conversation. And gratitude, I’m almost positive that wouldn’t have been included in my response; but if you listen carefully, this part of the story will tell you why it should. As a follower of Jesus, your response to every season of life … the good and the bad … the just and the unjust … the triumphant and the tragic … is being listened to. You never know when God may use your gracious, grateful response toward him to be the key that literally opens the door to someone’s heart. You never know who is listening in on your life.