by Cassie Downs,

Christian Blogger

Imagine this. Someone throws us into prison; unfairly and without good reason. But our faith in Jesus causes us to rise up in prayer during our darkest time. We pray and we praise continually, and then it happens. The doors of our prison swing open, our shackles are loosed, and we are free to run. What do we do?

Everything inside of me says, run! I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t think twice about it. I wouldn’t stop to pray and make sure that’s the right decision. I would hurry. And I’m guessing you wouldn’t be far behind me. I’m not so sure you wouldn’t knock me down on your way out the door. I’m kidding. That would probably be me knocking you down. Point is, we wouldn’t stick around. Right?

And that is why I find the story of Paul and Silas’ imprisonment so fascinating. Here we have Paul and Silas out preaching the gospel when a fortune teller causes chaos for the two men. Paul finally gets annoyed by her and casts a demon out of her. This, of course, upsets her owners because all they can see is the money they will lose, and so the owner seizes Paul and Silas. Taken to the chief magistrate, he threw them into the inner prison. But it’s in prison where God shows up.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because we’re all here! ” — Acts 16:25-28 (CSB) (bold emphasis added)

Wait. Let me get this straight. They didn’t run? They stayed? Why on earth would they stay? And not just Paul and Silas, but all the prisoners. I asked the Lord this question this morning while reading through this setting of scripture and He spoke to my spirit and said, “they didn’t run because they are different”. And if we are Christ’s followers, we look and act differently than the world or we should. When we follow Jesus, we put on His character. We bear spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-24) and it causes us to look, act, and live differently than the world.

I believe it was this difference that not only kept Paul and Silas in prison that night, but that also kept the other prisoners in jail. The other prisoners who were listening to their prayer and praises stayed, I think, because they saw something different in those two men and once they received spiritual freedom, physical freedom didn’t really matter.

As Christ followers, we have a lot of opportunities to be different. Every day, there are limitless ways to walk, talk, and act differently than the world. We have endless opportunities to put the needs and welfare of others above ourselves. We possess the power through Jesus Christ to bring peace, joy, love, and hope into the lives of prisoners all around us.

Paul and Silas understood walking away would’ve brought physical freedom to themselves and likely spiritual death to those around them. They sacrificed their longing for physical freedom to bring people into a relationship with Jesus, who gives the only freedom that really matters.

Are you willing to walk, talk, and act differently in order to see the spiritually dead come to life in Christ and to receive the gift of forgiveness and freedom? Is the life of your co-worker, your spouse, your friend, your brother and sister, or even your enemy worth getting a little uncomfortable about? This, my friend, is the cost of following Jesus. Is it worth the cost? Jesus thought so when he gave up his physical freedom so that you and I could receive spiritual freedom.

Cassie Downs is the author of Chasing Jesus and Unrivaled, both 60-day devotionals and founder of Everyday Jesus Ministry. Connect with her online at everyday-jesus.com. Cassie’s books are available locally and Amazon.com.