SCRIPTURE:
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!”
Acts 16:25-28
OBSERVATION:
God is a God of the miraculous. But when God performs a miracle, don’t be distracted by the greatness of one miracle that you fail to see His greatest miracle.
God breaking Paul and Silas out of prison at midnight is one of the most well-known miracles in Acts. The story goes that Paul and Silas are thrown into prison because of a master who was mad that they exorcised one of his slaves, setting her free. Despite being in prison, rather than complaining and giving up, they continue to pray, praise, and sing to God. And at midnight, as they were praying and singing, God sent an earthquake to open their prison doors and break them out.
For years, I read these scriptures believing that this was the miracle of the story––that God used an earthquake to open their prison doors. But this was not the real miracle. This was not the focus of that story. Because do Paul and Silas walk out of the prison when God opens the prison doors? No. They end up staying!
As stated in verses 27 and 28, “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!”” Although they could have left, they did not leave. Why?
Because the true miracle was the salvation of the jailer.
As the story continues, “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?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized” (Acts 16:29-33 NLT).
Was the earthquake and the doors that were opened because of it a miracle? Absolutely! God literally shook the Earth to do so. But as great as that miracle was, we must not forget why God performed it. It was not to break Paul and Silas out of prison––it was to get this jailer into heaven. How great the love of God is! That He loved this jailer so much that He shook the whole earth and sent Paul and Silas directly to his place of work to save his soul. This was the greatest miracle.
APPLICATION:
With God, miracles abound. And every miracle He performs is great. However, we must not get so fixated on one miracle that we fail to see what God is doing. For a miracle that we see as an end may really just be the means that God uses to accomplish what He truly wants.
Even more importantly, we must not make miracles all about ourselves. Imagine if Paul and Silas did that! They were literally praying and singing at midnight asking God to break them out of prison, and that’s what God did. God opened the prison doors. But Paul and Silas were mature enough to realize that not every door that God opens is one that He wants us to walk through. When God opens a door, we must still do our part and discern whether God wants us to walk through that door.
When God answered the prayers of Paul and Silas, they didn’t jump on the miracle and make it all about themselves. They stopped, looked, and listened to what God was doing. And in doing so, they realized that although this miracle was an answered prayer, God did not answer it just for them––He did it for the jailer too. For when we experience miracles in our lives, oftentimes, it’s not just for us––it’s also for the sake of those around us too.
Don’t be distracted by one miracle that you fail to see what God is doing––and more importantly, everyone He’s doing them for. For through your miracle, perhaps you’re not the only one He wants to bless.
PRAYER:
God,
You are so good! Thank You for Your miracles, Your love, and Your grace that You show us daily. When You perform miracles in my life, give me eyes to see what You’re doing, a heart that discerns Your plan, and feet that follow You in it. And if I miss the mark and allow myself to be distracted by the greatness of one miracle, correct me back to the totality of what You’re doing. I love You, Lord. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
