But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" -
Acts 16:28
Paul and Silas had just been thrown
into prison. An earthquake erupted and the jail cell was opened. It's Paul and
Silas' opportunity. "Deliverance! Praise God!" might be the appropriate
response. But this is not what Paul and Silas did. In fact, rather than leave,
they sat quietly in their cell area. The guard, in fear of his life, knew that
it would be automatic death if prisoners escaped. Paul and Silas did not leave
because they saw a higher purpose for which they were in prison. They were not
looking at their circumstance; they were much more concerned about the unsaved
guard. The story goes on to explain how Paul and Silas went home with the guard
and his family. Not only did the guard get saved, but his entire household as
well.
What a lesson this is for us. How
often we are so busy looking for deliverance from our circumstance that we miss
God completely. God is looking to do miracles in our circumstances if we will
only look for them. Sometimes as workplace believers we become so obsessed with
our goals we miss the process that God involves us in, which may be where the
miracle lies. What if that bill collector who has been hounding you is unsaved
and he is there for you to speak to? What if a problem account has arisen due
to something God is doing beyond what you might see at this time? Our adverse
situations can often be the door of spiritual opportunity for those who need
it.
I saw this personally when God
allowed me to go through a number of adversities. It took some time, but I saw
some great miracles as a result of those adversities. When God said that
"all things work together for good for those who are called according to
His purposes" (see Rom. 8:28), He meant all things. It is up to us to find
the "work together for good" part by being faithful to the process.
In the next adversity you face, tune your spiritual antennae and ask God for
discernment to see the real purpose for the adversity.
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