Have you ever been touched by God’s grace, which is His undeserved love? If you have, how did that change your life? How did that change the way you viewed God? My mother had an expression, “You get a lot further with honey than vinegar.” The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 2:4Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? [1]
What is God revealing to us in this verse? Our God is kind, tolerant and patient. He is long suffering. His kindness is such that people turn from their sin because they begin to realize how kind the Lord is. If I was in charge, I would have kicked many people to the curb long ago. Not God. He is patient, giving each person more time than they deserve to repent and turn towards Him. The Lord is the Good Shepherd who never tires of going after lost sheep. He is the Gardner that continually weeds around us and waters us to help us grow. Other gardeners would have given up on us, but not God.
A Jailer feels God’s Undeserved Love
In our story God reached the jailer with his kindness. Acts 16:27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”[2]
In the days of Rome if prisoners escaped, the jailer would be executed. This gives us insight why he was going to kill himself. Instead all the prisoners stayed in the prison. All! Paul and Silas had been praising God, which had an amazing influence on the other prisoners. The prisoners experienced God’s kindness as well as the jailer. The jailer was so moved he became a believer in Jesus along with his entire household. God’s kindness descended into the prison and the home of the jailer like liquid love dropping from heaven.
God’s Goal
God’s kindness led the jailer to repentance. That was God’s goal! The Lord wanted the jailer and his entire family to be saved and become part of the family of God. Someday you will meet them in person. God desires you to receive His undeserved love. All you have to do is ask!
Praise the Lord for His Kindness who gives us hope! To hear more about this hope, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/hope-in-prison
[1-2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.