Two Jailbirds

There were two notable men of God in the Bible who spent some time in prison… Joseph and Paul.

They were both put in prison on false charges. Joseph (from the Old Testament) was imprisoned because his master’s wife said some false things about him and Paul (from the New Testament) was put in prison because some Jews made some false claims about him.

Both prospered in prison. Joseph was put in a position of being in charge of all the other prisoners. Paul was so trustworthy that he was placed under house arrest in Rome under a Roman guard and could receive guests to teach the Gospel without fear from Jewish persecution. Imagine what that Roman guard must have seen… the sick cured, demons exorcized and the Gospel taught. I would bet anything you wanted that he became a Christian.

Eventually Joseph was granted an audience with Pharaoh the King of Egypt and became second in command. His heirs (with God’s help) would bring the Egyptian empire to its knees.

So too Paul… He was granted an audience with Caesar the King of the Roman Empire and testified about Jesus Christ. Eventually Rome would be brought to her knees and would reject polytheism for the worship of the one true God.

All this brought about by God who arranged to have Joseph and Paul placed in prison. You see God’s greatest work is accomplished through the hands of men who are meek and humble. There are a few learning points in this…

- Don’t despise and pre-judge those who are or who have been in prison. They may be agents of God who are planting the seeds for world change.

- You may find yourself in a low spot in life. Don’t despair and wallow in self-pity. Don’t complain (No one likes to listen to complainers anyway) to anyone who will listen that you’re really innocent. Keep your mouth shut and just do the best you can and allow God time to elevate you.

God loves humble people… choose to be humble.