Acts 16:25 – “About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God…”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was reminded of a saying from years ago.  You are the only Bible some people read.  What is the Gospel according to you?

People watch believers, especially in times of difficulty.  In Acts 16, Paul and Silas had been beaten severely and imprisoned in Philippi.   Think about the situation.  They had been beaten with rods, wrongly imprisoned, and were praying and praising God at midnight “in jail.”  Too often, we lick our wounds and lament (woe is me).  Why me, Lord?  Why this?  Why now?  Why, why, why?

The verse continues, “AND the rest of the prisoners were listening to them.”   That is extremely important!   That is incredibly revelatory and places a weight of responsibility on believers.  We are to be Christ’s representatives and manifest His heart, nature, and character in this world.  We are to be like Him.

What was Jesus’ response on the Cross?   “Father, forgive them…” What about Stephen, as he was being stoned?  “Father, forgive them.”

How we live is important.   But also, how we face storms and even how we die.   I want my life, in both times of ease and times of trial, to glorify God.  If people are reading my life and that is their only encounter with the gospel, I want it to glorify God!

We do not know how our response to difficulties, trials, tribulations, and tests will impact others.    It is reported that one of Dave Roever’s boatmates cried out as he heard Dave praising God as he surfaced from the waters, severely wounded and apparently dying.   The man reportedly knelt and said, “If he can serve God dying, I can serve him living.”

You and I are being watched.  Let each of us be worth watching!  We have the provision of God’s Grace and the infilling of His Spirit to impact this world.  What is the gospel according to how you live?

Let the Gospel according to you be the same Gospel Jesus presented, and the early church preached!