Our Impact/The Impact of Paul and Silas

This week’s devotional is about our impact. Specifically what kind of impact are we having for the Lord? Do we even have an impact? It doesn’t take much to make an impact. Even a little act of kindness can open a window of opportunity to talk about the Lord. Take the account of the Philippian jailer for instance:

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. (Acts 16.25-27)

What surprises you about this passage? Let me tell you what surprises me. I’m surprised by the fact that these men, Paul and Silas, were in jail and what were they doing? Not feeling sorry for themselves, not crying uncontrollably (like I’m sure I would do), but rather they were “praying and singing hymns to God” (16.25). Put yourself in their situation. These men didn’t see imprisonment as a hindrance to their telling others about God, but rather a perfect area in which to do so. We see at the end of verse 25 that the “prisoners were listening to them”. Did Paul and Silas’ singing and praying have an impact on them? Sure it did, look:

But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." (Acts 16.28)

What does the end of that verse say? “Do not harm yourself, for we are ALL here.” It appears to me, and maybe I’m wrong, that the prisoners were so impacted by the actions of Paul and Silas that they didn’t escape when they had the chance (or perhaps they were knocked out by the earthquake, haha). Paul and Silas not only had an impact on these other prisoners but also on the jailer, look:

 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 

Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"And 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 and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. (Acts 16.29-34)

We see that Paul and Silas impacted the jailer so much that the jailer believed and “was baptized”. This is quite an example for us. Is our impact anything like theirs? If not, why not? This week I want you to look at yourself and see what kind of impact you’re making on your peers. Does it hurt the gospel, or further it?

- Jack Dodgen (All passages are from the ESV, unless otherwise noted)