COMFORTING THE BRETHREN

And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them. —Acts 16:4

Paul and Silas were slandered, beaten, and imprisoned in Philippi. They made the “mistake” of upsetting the local economy by putting fortune teller’s employers out of business.

While imprisoned these preachers prayed and sang praises to God at midnight. God liked what He heard and rocked the jail house with an earthquake (“Jailhouse Rock?”). The jailer and his family got saved and Paul and Silas are released the next day.

While still hurting from the severe beating of the day before, they go to Lydia’s house. Disregarding their own pain and suffering, Paul and Silas comfort the brethren who are there! As G. Campbell Morgan said, “The sufferers comforted those who did not suffer.” The selflessness of Paul and Silas is a rebuke to many of us who are more interested in being comforted instead giving comfort to others.

Don’t let your own pain and hurting keep you from bringing comfort to others. As you comfort others, you’ll be surprised how your own discomfort is minimized.