2 Years in Jail

April 7

Read: Acts 28:11-30

2 Years in Jail

“He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” (v.30)

This is it !?! This is how the book of Acts ends? We are not given the outcome of Paul’s trial? We don’t hear what the officials in Rome say to him? We are left with the words above. In a way, this is a beautiful picture of how we, as God’s people, bide our time while awaiting what is next. In some ways, we too may feel a bit “trapped”. Trapped by our circumstances. Trapped by our bodies and their ailments. Trapped by uncertainty or even pandemics. You could easily replace “trapped” with “imprisoned” and begin to feel what Paul must have felt. How do we move forward while we wait for what’s next? how do we deal with being “trapped” or “imprisoned”?

It is interesting to think that Paul spent 2 years waiting for his trial. He was under house arrest for 2 years with the soldier who guarded him. (v.16) He lived this way “at his own expense”. (v.30) It seems so wrong to have to pay for your own incarceration. For us as GOd’s people, to live like we should while we wait will often come at our own expense. This is ok… God is going to “reimburse” us… every bit… every penny… every moment! The people of God live our lives willing to pour ourselves out at our own expense. We do this while “welcoming all who come to us”. Paul could easily have been bitter or stand-off-ish. Yet he was the opposite. God has called us to be welcoming. God is drawing people to himself through US. He is bringing people into our lives. When we are “welcoming” it counteracts our feelings of being trapped or imprisoned. As the people of God we “welcome all who come to us”.

It is not enough to simply be welcoming though. There is more. As the people of God we “proclaim the Kingdom of God and teach about the Lord Jesus Christ.” This is another way we pass the time while we wait imprisoned. We have spoken before regarding the Kingdom of God in these devotions. The world that God is unfolding around us is pressing back against the darkness. This Kingdom is expanding. This Kingdom is a place of freedom… it is the opposite of “trapped” or “imprisoned”. This is why we declare it with great energy. God is “setting the captive free”… this is what Christ came to do- free you from your imprisonment! (cf. Luke 4:18, Is 61:1-2) We do this with “boldness and without hindrance”. What is it that “hinders” us from proclaiming? Is it a lack of understanding? Is it a cultural norm? Is it our own fear? Paul’s imprisonment gave him an unencumbered 2 years to proclaim the Gospel to everyone God brought to him. He was singularly focused on this mission. Talk about a gift that comes through a rough situation! The truth is that we experience a great deal more freedom than Paul did. Even on our most “trapped” days we are not imprisoned the way that Paul was. What Paul does show us is how to productively wait for what God has next. As God's people we wait “welcoming all who come to us, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” The book of Acts leaves us hanging this way… how will you wait? How will your story end? Love you guys! What a great book to work through. Remember that previous devotions through the book of Acts are available at TheBetterDaysAhead.com Looking forward to a new book tomorrow! - JDP