God’s Actions…
Close to death illness comes and God intervenes for His own reasons and brings you back to better health so you can serve Him again. We have had that experience in our own household more than once. Maybe for others it’s financial disaster, and God intervenes. For some it is broken relationships that bring you to your knees in despair. And God intervenes. Maybe it’s even jail time for a crime you did not commit. And God intervenes and HIS glory is seen by all!
For Peter, the “rock”, the one whom Jesus decided to build His church, is in jail for a crime he did not commit. The Jews wanted him silenced. Herod just wanted him dead so he could be even more popular with the Jews. And God, in all Him power and glory, intervened. God was not finished with Peter. Yet.
Read and meditate on this passage. God is amazing. See what God does as He steps in to rectify this situation, so Peter can continue the work God gave him to accomplish for now, for “such a time as this”. Rejoice in the story, the TRUE story that builds our own faith and confidence.
Remember that God still intervenes today. Our hope is built on nothing less! Take note of the reactions of the people of God when He does take over the situation. Hilarious and sad at the same time. They pray. God acts. In fact, God acted WHILE they were praying. Their prays had to be interrupted by the action of God! They have to be convinced that God acted upon their “strenuous praying” for Peter!
Acts 12, The Message
Peter Under Heavy Guard
12 1-4 That’s when King Herod got it into his head to go after some of the church members. He murdered James, John’s brother. When he saw how much it raised his popularity ratings with the Jews, he arrested Peter—all this during Passover Week, mind you—and had him thrown in jail, putting four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. He was planning a public lynching after Passover.
5 All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jailhouse, the church prayed for him most strenuously.
6 Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was taking no chances!
7-9 Suddenly there was an angel at his side and light flooding the room. The angel shook Peter and got him up: “Hurry!” The handcuffs fell off his wrists. The angel said, “Get dressed. Put on your shoes.” Peter did it. Then, “Grab your coat and let’s get out of here.” Peter followed him, but didn’t believe it was really an angel—he thought he was dreaming.
10-11 Past the first guard and then the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city. It swung open before them on its own, and they were out on the street, free as the breeze. At the first intersection the angel left him, going his own way. That’s when Peter realized it was no dream. “I can’t believe it—this really happened! The Master sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s vicious little production and the spectacle the Jewish mob was looking forward to.”
12-14 Still shaking his head, amazed, he went to Mary’s house, the Mary who was John Mark’s mother. The house was packed with praying friends. When he knocked on the door to the courtyard, a young woman named Rhoda came to see who it was. But when she recognized his voice—Peter’s voice!—she was so excited and eager to tell everyone Peter was there that she forgot to open the door and left him standing in the street.
15-16 But they wouldn’t believe her, dismissing her, dismissing her report. “You’re crazy,” they said. She stuck by her story, insisting. They still wouldn’t believe her and said, “It must be his angel.” All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away.
16-17 Finally they opened up and saw him—and went wild! Peter put his hands up and calmed them down. He described how the Master had gotten him out of jail, then said, “Tell James and the brothers what’s happened.” He left them and went off to another place.
18-19 At daybreak the jail was in an uproar. “Where is Peter? What’s happened to Peter?” When Herod sent for him and they could neither produce him nor explain why not, he ordered their execution: “Off with their heads!” Fed up with Judea and Jews, he went for a vacation to Caesarea.
What do we learn?
Pray believing! Then EXPECT God to act! “Grab your coat and let’s get out of here!” Oh God, You are amazing!
Dear Heavenly Father, Sometimes we pray to You so humbly, we don’t expect for You to actually listen. That is the sin of doubt. Forgive us.
We pray. You act. It’s a simple as that. You won’t act in the way we think you should for we do not know what is best, but you DO act. We praise You this morning for that fact, this nugget of Truth, found only in You.
Thank you for saving us, showing mercy and grace to us and for never giving up on us because of Your love. Thank you for protecting us from our own prayers of selfishness in thinking we know what is best for us. Thank you for answering our prayers with Your best.
In Jesus Name, Amen
