December 26, 2011 Devotional

Sounds of the Season

    
"And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed." - Acts 16:23-26
   
During this beautiful holiday season, it's so easy to hear the "sounds of the season" and to feel the joy and love. Our churches and homes are full of beautiful decorations, warm fireplaces and lovely food. Friends and family we love so dear are near. Laughter and joy fill the air. But what about the people who are in dark, lonely places...restricted, alone and in pain? For whatever reason, life has them chained and imprisoned.
 
Paul and Silas had been beaten and thrown in jail for casting a demonic spirit out of a little girl. They were put in chains that clamped their arms and legs in an "immobile position," causing even more pain. The atmosphere was depressing; the prison was more like a dungeon, dark, damp and stench ridden. Yet, in spite of the excruciating pain, both physical and mental, they made a decision to start praising and worshipping God.
 
Can you imagine what that must have sounded like to the other prisoners? What a strange sound, full of joy, hope, expectation and love! Hearts full of unrestricted, abundant, overflowing adoration for God that could not be chained or imprisoned.
   
The only "sounds" the other prisoners were used to hearing were sounds of great pain, groans, crying and cursing. The sounds of people who had been beaten, imprisoned in a horrible dungeon and had lost all hope. When all of a sudden, as they were praising God, a mighty earthquake happened. The chains dropped off of them, but not only them. They also dropped off of EVERY OTHER PRISONER!
   
The scripture says, "...and the prisoners were listening..." There are prisoners all around you that are listening...listening for the sound of hope, love and worship. Let your life be lived so that people in prison can "hear" the true sound of the season, so that we can all walk out of darkness together.

Cindy Oden 

Family Life Church
Altus, OK
www.flcaltus.com