By Donna Wittlif
Have you ever had a joy so heartfelt that you burst into song? A joy so deep that you felt there was no way you could express your thanksgiving to God except to sing? Paul and Silas did.
"But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God..." Where were Paul and Silas? Acts 16:23 tells us they were in prison. Not only were they in prison with their feet held fast in stocks, but the magistrates had torn their garments off them and had beaten them with many stripes.
Can you imagine sitting in a cold and dank Roman prison with your feet in stocks and blood sliding down your back? The pain in your back would be bad enough to make you sick to your stomach. Your body might be in shock. What would you be doing if you had just been beaten and thrown into prison?
Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God loudly enough that the other prisoners could hear them. Might this cause them to receive a worse punishment? That didn't frighten them because their trust was in God, and God rescued them. An earthquake shook the prison, the stocks holding them loosened, and the prison doors were opened.
Paul and Silas had a joy buried so deeply in their hearts that they rejoiced no matter the circumstances that beset them. That joy was based on their faith in Jesus Christ, their obedience to Him, and the promises He had given them.
Like Paul and Silas, may we have such great joy in the spiritual blessings that we have in Christ that we have to tell others. Our reason is the joy unspeakable we feel because of our belief in Christ.
Whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though how ye see him not, ye rejoice greatly with joy inexpressible and full
- Donna Wittlif, the founder and first editor of BulletinGold, lives in Denver, CO. Donna is also a writer of fiction. Her novels, World Eternal: Promises and World Eternal: Proselytes, and World Eternal: Perils, and her newest book, Finding Her Heart, are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book outlets. For more information visit her website. http://www.donnarwittlif.com/
Have you ever had a joy so heartfelt that you burst into song? A joy so deep that you felt there was no way you could express your thanksgiving to God except to sing? Paul and Silas did.
"But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God..." Where were Paul and Silas? Acts 16:23 tells us they were in prison. Not only were they in prison with their feet held fast in stocks, but the magistrates had torn their garments off them and had beaten them with many stripes.
Can you imagine sitting in a cold and dank Roman prison with your feet in stocks and blood sliding down your back? The pain in your back would be bad enough to make you sick to your stomach. Your body might be in shock. What would you be doing if you had just been beaten and thrown into prison?
Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God loudly enough that the other prisoners could hear them. Might this cause them to receive a worse punishment? That didn't frighten them because their trust was in God, and God rescued them. An earthquake shook the prison, the stocks holding them loosened, and the prison doors were opened.
Paul and Silas had a joy buried so deeply in their hearts that they rejoiced no matter the circumstances that beset them. That joy was based on their faith in Jesus Christ, their obedience to Him, and the promises He had given them.
Like Paul and Silas, may we have such great joy in the spiritual blessings that we have in Christ that we have to tell others. Our reason is the joy unspeakable we feel because of our belief in Christ.
Whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though how ye see him not, ye rejoice greatly with joy inexpressible and full
- Donna Wittlif, the founder and first editor of BulletinGold, lives in Denver, CO. Donna is also a writer of fiction. Her novels, World Eternal: Promises and World Eternal: Proselytes, and World Eternal: Perils, and her newest book, Finding Her Heart, are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book outlets. For more information visit her website. http://www.donnarwittlif.com/
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