The Power of Rejoicing

Imagine...
Imagine it's midnight, you have just been beaten unjustly for doing the Lord's work, and you're in prison with your feet bound. What would you be doing? This is exactly where  Paul and Silas found themselves one midnight long ago.

Acts 16:22-34
"The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

"But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!' And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down beforePaul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'

"They said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.' And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household."

Staring Me in the Eyes
Honestly, if I were in this situation, I don't think I'd be rejoicing. I think I'd be crying out to God for relief, but as I read this passage I was amazed! Here were two men in a very trying circumstance, who were praising God! This passage was staring in my face. It made me ask myself, "Why do I ever complain if they rejoiced when their circumstances were much worse?"

Do Not Simply Cease! Rejoice!
The Israelites complained despite the many good gifts God had given them. God gave them manna, and they complained because they wanted meat. How often are we like them? God has given us so many gifts! Our goal should not be to simply cease from complaining. We should rejoice! Philippians 4:4 says "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Paul said it twice because rejoicing is so important!

What Would The World be Like?
When Paul and Silas were rejoicing, all the doors were opened and every one's chains fell off, not to mention the fact that an entire family was saved! Maybe we are missing out on miracles because we aren't rejoicing. I wonder what would be different in our lives if we rejoiced? What would the world be like if every Christian rejoiced? 

The Charge:
No matter where you are in life, let's follow the example of Paul and Silas in rejoicing. Let's just watch to see what God does!