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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Friday, February 6, 2004 Jail! |
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Frontline Devotion for
Friday, February 6, 2004, by Fritz Foltz
Bible text;
Acts 16: 16-40
Three weeks ago I was there, standing in the ruins of Philippi. The Greek guide
pointed to what remained of some rooms and declared, “That’s the jail in which
Paul was imprisoned.” Suddenly our passage was not a story in a book but rather
an event in real life. This important man was really jailed for proclaiming the
Gospel of Jesus. In Second Corinthians Paul said this was not a singular
happening. He claimed to have been given the 39 lashes five times and beaten
with rods three times. In addition, he had been stoned once.
My first reaction is to thank God that kind of thing does not happen around
here. My second is to wonder if I would stand up for my beliefs if it did. My
third is to push that
thought from my mind with something like, “Why fret. That is not a relevant
concern.” And my fourth is to remind myself of a period in my life that still
haunts me. Standing at the ruins of the jail in Philippi stirred it all up
again.
Back when I was in divinity school some of my friends were being jailed for
standing publicly for civil rights. I had to ask myself if I should be going
South with them. I chose not to, because it just wasn’t me, I was poor and could
not afford to lose a semester, it would not really help anyway. But I was not
sure I was not simply being a coward. Now I have to admit the breakthroughs
might not have come without their sacrifice. I was part of it all through my
later preaching and community activeness, but I never faced jail.
When I would come close to going with them, part of my reasoning involved the
realization that the jailings were usually very short. Arrangements were made
for quick releases. But it still was not for me.
Paul certainly had a different attitude. He willingly went to jail for the Lord. In this episode he was not interested in quick release. He remained in his cell
in order to help the jailer save face and keep from killing himself. Survival
of self was certainly not the apostle’s primary goal. In fact, neither was
comfort.
So three weeks ago, I stood there looking at the jail and wondering once again
if I was able to follow Paul if Jesus called on me. Of course, I am not sure if
Jesus was calling me back in the Divinity School days. He certainly achieved his
goal without my jailing. But I am also sure that when the call does come, it
will not be clear-cut. I shall once again be able to find excuses, if I want. But I hope…..
Let us pray: Loving Father God, still my lingering doubts. Fill me with your
Holy Spirit and give me the courage of Paul that I might follow Jesus wherever he
leads. I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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