"Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, 'Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.' "
Acts 16:26-28
So what kept Paul and Silas from escaping? Surely God had delivered them; yet they stayed and apparently persuaded all the other prisoners not to run away. People were saved, both physically and spiritually, because they refused to run. It takes a lot of integrity to forego apparent opportunities to run from my problems instead of using the opportunity to witness God's grace in the middle of them. We are not told what Paul and Silas prayed (vs. 25), but it must have been, "Lord Jesus, use this for Your glory," because that is how they responded. (For a current example of witnessing through trials, go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/juanitapomeroy, the website for the wife of the A/G pastor in Lincoln City, Oregon.)
Today's Thought: God can use my problems to minister to other people if I don't run from them.
Have a ministering day. Love you.
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