Freedom A'int Free

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16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. 19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. (Acts 16:16-19)

An enslaved girl followed Paul, Silas, and those with them who were proclaiming Christ in Philippi. For days, she trailed behind them shouting their identity as servants of God who were offering a path to salvation. Although she spoke the truth, her presence became an annoyance to Paul, and he commanded the spirit of divination to come out of this girl. Unfortunately, it was that very spirit that made her valuable to those who held her captive. Her fortune-telling had been extremely profitable for them. Angered over their loss of easy income, her captors had Paul and Silas arrested. Deemed a danger to the Roman way of life, Paul and Silas were beaten, shackled, and imprisoned. They were officially released only after a powerful praise and worship session shook the prison doors open, and broke their shackles. Their jailer was so amazed, both by the power he witnesses and their integrity for not escaping, that he begged to know how he could be saved.

We are not given any information about what became of the enslaved girl. Was her life improved or made more difficult? Or, did this "freedom" cost her life? It seems that, at least momentarily, Paul forgot that love and compassion should precede any ministry. Had he seen her humanity and her worth, perhaps Paul would have asked her if she wanted the salvation they were offering. The verses before this story show that Paul was willing to proclaim the good news of Jesus to women because he had sought out a group of women who regularly met for prayer, thereby meeting Lydia who was so moved that she hosted the traveling missionaries in her home. It could be that the enslaved girl's youth prevented Paul from allowing her to have a say in her future.

As evidenced by the transformation in the lives of Lydia, the jailer and his family, as well as the freeing of Paul and Silas - during, and as a result of their prayer and praise - we know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is liberating. We can only imagine how much more powerful their witness could have been if the enslaved girl - and even her "owners" - had been given the opportunity to make the same declaration the jailer and Lydia made. While this girl is nameless to us, God knew her and loved her. Her life was firmly in God's hands. As we strive to follow Jesus, we must remember to meet and love people where they are. The cost Jesus paid for our salvation was too high for us to misuse, or fail to share, this gift of love.

30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The 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 household. (Acts 16:30-34)

The tune is familiar, so sing along with the lyrics!