March 22 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

The two inmates who were locked up in the inner security cell seemed no different from the other prisoners sent down by the Roman magistrates. Their garments were torn off their backs and they looked a mess. Maybe they had received a few more blows than usual. But for the most part, they were just prisoners, as far as the jailer was concerned. "He put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks."

Around midnight, however, it became abundantly clear that these inmates were messengers of Jesus Christ.

In prison everyone is accustomed to obscenities. You cannot arouse anyone by cursing. But these two men began to pray and sing hymns to God. That was highly unusual.

Apparently, Paul and Silas did not think this was the time to preach a sermon on repentance and faith. Instead they expressed their own faith and joy in prayer and song. There is a time for preaching and a time for giving a testimony.

"And the other prisoners were listening to them." These miserable men, who spent their days waiting for death or release, sat up. It was as if light was streaming into that dreadful place. The angels must have begun singing too. In the act of worship, heaven and earth are always united.

Then God moved his finger. Everything trembled. The chains broke, and the doors fell off their hinges.

Before the night was over, the jailer and his family were also praying and singing hymns to God. God's angels must have sung their most joy­ful hallelujahs.

What is the secret that makes Christians laugh through their tears and sing while they suffer? The secret is not a thing but a person. The secret is Jesus.

REFLECTIONS

Can you think of a Christian you know who "sang" his or her way through suffering? What impact did this have on you?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.