The 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. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. Ac 16:27–32
I was amazed by Paul’s actions. If it had been me, I would not have tried to stop the jailer from taking his own life. Out of fear that he might notice me, I probably would have fled without even looking back, thinking he deserved the punishment for imprisoning us.
But Paul was different. Even in a situation where his own life could have been at risk, he thought first about saving the jailer’s life. This is the altruistic love that Paul had—a love I still lack.
While preaching the gospel, there have been times when I encountered people with a closed or hostile attitude, and I responded by closing off my own heart first. Looking back, I feel deeply ashamed. Although I claimed to be delivering God’s love, in reality, I often lacked true love for others within my own heart. Even now, I want to fill what is lacking and grow.