What are You Willing to Sacrifice?

     Have you ever been just going about your day, doing one thing or another, but just minding you own business, when someone interrupts your peace?  It is funny how you spend time in God's Word.  You pray up and you are convinced you are going to have a good day.  Nothing is going to take your peace away.  Then all of a sudden, something happens and you are left with "what just happened".
     Paul and Silas can empathize.  They were looking for a place to go pray.  A girl began to follow them.  She told the future for people to make money for her boss.  When she began to follow them, they were just doing their own thing, not bothering anyone.  She began shouting to everyone whom was near.  Everywhere they went for days, this happened.
     Finally, Paul got fed up.  He told the spirit in her to come out and it was forced to leave immediately.  This did not make her boss very happy because her value to him was gone.  His income was gone.  He had Paul and Silas arrested for throwing the city into an uproar by introducing unlawful customs into the Roman culture.
     They were stripped, flogged, and thrown into a unhuman prison where they were put into stocks with chains.  Around Midnight, they were praying and singing praise to God where others in prison were able to hear about Jesus.  (There is a good chance that if all this had not happened, they may never of had the opportunity to know what it is like to have that kind of relationship.)  Suddenly, there was a violent earthquake and all the prison doors were opened and the chains came loose.
     The jailer almost killed himself thinking they had all escaped, but Paul stopped him.  That night the jailer found salvation.  He took Paul and Silas to his home, so his family could be saved.  God always provides a way.  All you have to do is be willing.  When it looks like you are suffering for your faith remember that God has something better in store for you.  We can resist reacting to people, but when we do, God can use it for His purpose. (Acts 16:16-40)

^{35 "}When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, “Release those men.”  ³⁶ The jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace.”  ³⁷ But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to send us away secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out.”  ³⁸ The police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. ³⁹ So they came to appease them, and escorting them from prison, they urged them to leave town."  Acts 16: 35-39 (CSB)