An Eternal Perspective

Readings:
II Chronicles 3
Acts 16:16-40

Focus:
Acts 16:27-28: "The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open and, assuming that the prisoners had escaped, drew his sword intending to kill himself. But Paul shouted, 'Do yourself no harm; we are all here.'"

I think that if I were unfairly thrown into jail in a primitive justice system, and an earthquake burst the doors open, I would lose no time in running away from there, thanking God for giving me a chance to escape. But Paul and Silas had a different idea. They didn't think of themselves; they thought of the jailer, who would have lost his life, had the prisoners escaped.

Not only did they save the jailer from death, they saved him from eternal death, because they told the jailer about salvation, and he and his entire household were baptized and became followers of Christ. Paul and Silas had an eternal perspective, and they were concerned for other people, not for themselves. They are good examples; I'd like to be like them.