Wed., 7/29/20 Devotion (Acts 16:25)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 16:25, where we read these words:

"But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them."

This well-known verse (above) has several intriguing elements to it. First off, Paul and Silas were up late (at midnight). Secondly, they were praying and singing "publicly," and out loud—not at all concerned that others would hear them. And lastly, the other prisoners were "listening" to them. The detained people were giving attention to what was being sung and said.

We can imagine that those two men (Paul and Silas) may have had gravelly singing voices; but it is also likely that what they sang and prayed was a great source of comfort and ministry to all who heard them. Let us remember that the Christian faith, the true religion, is not a "private" matter, as the godless would hope it to be; instead, the true church's doctrine is totally "public," and it should fill the world, even as "the waters cover the sea."

[Puritan quote of the day: "Is your sin as big as God, as big as Christ?” —Wil-liam Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]