The Greater Good

by Mike Reed, Director of Student Ministries @ MBC Loudoun

I was reading in Acts 16 where Luke writes about Paul and Silas in prison “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and 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 bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

This text brought a lot of conviction to my heart as I saw Paul and Silas sitting in prison with an earthquake opening up the jail cell; it’s Paul and Silas’ opportunity, “we’re free! Praise God!” might be the response out of my mouth. Instead Paul and Silas sat quietly in their prison cell, as the guard, in fear of his life, knew that it would be automatic death if prisoners escaped. Paul and Silas didn’t leave because they saw a bigger reason for being in prison. They weren’t looking at their circumstances; they were much more concerned about the salvation of the guard. As most of you know Paul and Silas go home to the guards family and see him and his entire household saved.

What a story, but what a lesson this is for me. How often I am too busy looking for deliverance in a circumstance that I miss God’s work completely. Do I really believe God has a greater purpose in every sovereign circumstance He brings into my life? Sometimes I can become so obsessed with the freedom from pain that I miss the process that God wants to involve me in.

When God said that “for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to His purposes” he meant all things, most specifically to those who love him, not just know about him. Let’s press into Jesus this week, so that our spiritual antennas can discern His purposes in our lives through every circumstance he chooses to bring into our life, we may even get to see a saved soul in the midst of it. He is king, He is sovereign over all, He is good, we can trust Him.