In Acts 16.25, we find Paul and Silas in prison. Verses 25-33 read as follows:

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and 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 bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.


Lots of points can be made about this scripture, but the one that stands out to me today is:

As Christians, the example we set matters. Even on the worst of days. 

Can you imagine how bad a day this was for Paul and Silas? This wasn't some nice clean jail cell like down off the square here at the police department. Kiyle and I got to tour the jail during a minister's lunch we were invited to, and the jail cells that Paul and Silas were incarcerated in had to be infinitely worse. 

But just imagine - you're thrown in prison for the wrong reasons, with no trial, no probation, no hope of escape - what kind of mood would *you* be in? 

It doesn't matter if we're in a nasty jail cell and imprisoned for all the wrong reasons, or just in a bad mood because our car won't start - our example matters, even on our worst days. 

How people see *you* will be how they see Christianity. How people see *you* will be how they see *Christ.* Will they see something positive like the Philippian jailer saw, or will they see negativity, confusion, and dissent?

We all decide the message we send out to others. Make yours a positive message today. 

If you need prayers from the church, we can pray for you tonight. If you need to be baptized for the forgivness of your sins and become a child of God, you can do that tonight. Why don't you make a change right now while we stand and sing.