Tending to one another
Norah Summers
May 30, 2022
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Acts 16: 25-34 (NRSVA)
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.’ 29 The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ 31 They answered, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ 32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 34 He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.
Well, yesterday we left Paul and Silas in a pretty grim place.
So how are they doing? What are they doing?
Praying and singing?
Aye, right.
Next new twist — there is an earthquake. Of course.
Now they can escape. But if they do, the jailer will be punished. So they stay to reassure and comfort him, and he responds with compassion and kindness,
He and his family are baptised and find the joy of believing – a whole new life.
The Red Cross uses the slogan ‘The Power of Kindness’ – which is a really powerful phrase. The smallest act of kindness can make a huge difference, turn a life around.
PRAYER:
God of the new,
God of the unexpected,
bless our acts of kindness, great or small.
We may not know what effect they will have as they ripple out.
What we do know is that you are there, making all things new.
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