Taking One For The Team
Acts Chapter 16
Scripture= Acts chapter 16:22-23, 26-30, 34
22The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.
26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" 29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.
Observations and Applications=
Have you ever heard the expression, 'take one for the team?' I am not sure where that expression got started but it refers to making a self sacrifice for the sake of the team even if it hurts you personally. Many times it refers to playing hurt or letting someone play in your place. However this expression is used, it always indicates a willingness to sacrifice self for the sake of another.
While reading Acts 16 something struck me that I have never seen before. When Paul is brought before the town magistrates, accused and subsequently beaten, why doesn’t he tell everyone right away that he and Silas are Roman citizens? Look at what happens to Paul and Silas. They are beaten and incarcerated without trial and all Paul had to do to stop this mistreatment was to declare that they were Roman citizens. Why didn’t he say something?
Maybe Paul was simply taking one for the team? Think about it; would the jailer and his family have known Christ without Paul’s incarceration? Because of the incarceration there was an earthquake that literally brought the jailer to his knees. Without Paul’s intervention the man would have committed suicide.
It is hard to believe that the earlier verses in this chapter that refer to Paul specifically being led by the Holy Spirit are simply coincidental to the order of this passage (see verses 6-10). Perhaps Paul’s silence was directed by the Holy Spirit in the same way their journeys had been? Because Paul was willing to take one for the team, so to speak, the jailer and his entire family came to Christ. Taking this ‘take one for the team’ thought even further, perhaps the church at Philippi was able to grow and thrive without immediate persecution because the magistrates were concerned about the repercussions of their actions toward these two Roman citizens.
It just astounds me that Paul would be so willing to suffer for Christ in such a way to allow this man and his family to get saved! I complain about going out of my way to listen to someone’s problems. I can get upset when someone’s issues inconvenience my schedule.
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you about being willing to ‘take one for the team?’ What would happen to our lives if we were this willing to serve our Lord and to serve one another in this way? Who knows whose life and whose family would be changed? So what do you say; are you ready ‘to take one for the team?’
Prayer= Lord Jesus, may I be willing to lay down my life for my friends; even if I don’t know who they are yet. May I trust the Holy Spirit’s leading and be obedient to your voice. I want to learn to live a life that is willing ‘to take one for the team.’
Scripture= Acts chapter 16:22-23, 26-30, 34
22The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.
26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" 29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.
Observations and Applications=
Have you ever heard the expression, 'take one for the team?' I am not sure where that expression got started but it refers to making a self sacrifice for the sake of the team even if it hurts you personally. Many times it refers to playing hurt or letting someone play in your place. However this expression is used, it always indicates a willingness to sacrifice self for the sake of another.
While reading Acts 16 something struck me that I have never seen before. When Paul is brought before the town magistrates, accused and subsequently beaten, why doesn’t he tell everyone right away that he and Silas are Roman citizens? Look at what happens to Paul and Silas. They are beaten and incarcerated without trial and all Paul had to do to stop this mistreatment was to declare that they were Roman citizens. Why didn’t he say something?
Maybe Paul was simply taking one for the team? Think about it; would the jailer and his family have known Christ without Paul’s incarceration? Because of the incarceration there was an earthquake that literally brought the jailer to his knees. Without Paul’s intervention the man would have committed suicide.
It is hard to believe that the earlier verses in this chapter that refer to Paul specifically being led by the Holy Spirit are simply coincidental to the order of this passage (see verses 6-10). Perhaps Paul’s silence was directed by the Holy Spirit in the same way their journeys had been? Because Paul was willing to take one for the team, so to speak, the jailer and his entire family came to Christ. Taking this ‘take one for the team’ thought even further, perhaps the church at Philippi was able to grow and thrive without immediate persecution because the magistrates were concerned about the repercussions of their actions toward these two Roman citizens.
It just astounds me that Paul would be so willing to suffer for Christ in such a way to allow this man and his family to get saved! I complain about going out of my way to listen to someone’s problems. I can get upset when someone’s issues inconvenience my schedule.
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you about being willing to ‘take one for the team?’ What would happen to our lives if we were this willing to serve our Lord and to serve one another in this way? Who knows whose life and whose family would be changed? So what do you say; are you ready ‘to take one for the team?’
Prayer= Lord Jesus, may I be willing to lay down my life for my friends; even if I don’t know who they are yet. May I trust the Holy Spirit’s leading and be obedient to your voice. I want to learn to live a life that is willing ‘to take one for the team.’
I never looked at this passage and even thought about the church in Philippi. WOW!
I had often thought about what must have compelled these two men to know that justice wasn't served, yet they sang. I know have a new thought to ponder on the conversation or the glances that Silas must have had with Paul. You know, like: Are you sure we say nothing? Now Paul? What about now? And Paul just beginning to worship instead, the Peace that must have fell between them before the earth shook.
I don't want to know that kind of sacrifice, but what if it meant that an entire church body would be born, and thrill if I did?
Thanks for the word!
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Anonymous |
10:36 PM