Today's Reading:
Job 6,7,8; Acts 12
Scripture
Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!” (Acts 12:7, 10-11)
Observation
King Herod arrested and imprisoned Peter because this pleased the Jewish people.
Peter likely would have suffered the same fate as the apostle James and would have been killed, but God had other plans for him. We, like Peter, are suffering through a tough “prison” season. I am amazed that Peter was sleeping so soundly when the angel appeared. So soundly he had to be struck to wake him. The angel didn’t gently shake him or whisper in his ear, he sharply hit him.
Then the angel led him through unlocked prison gates to his freedom. Once free, he roused from his daze and became fully aware that God had miraculously saved his life.
Application
As we carefully navigate this rocky season, we must stay alert. Sometimes God will strike us with a physical ailment, financial hardship, or an uncertain future in order to get our attention. So many of us are just beginning to see that the pandemic unexpectedly shook us out of a deep sleep: we’ve reprioritized, we’ve surrendered to Him and we’re listening closely and allowing Him to lead us out of our prisons. I’ve met many who are finally heeding God’s calling on their lives, following their passions, and leaving behind things that have no eternal value. This has been a tough season but the opportunities that have come from it are priceless. We must come out of this prison journey better and more aware, not the same as before, and not defeated. We will be better because God is freeing us from our shackles so that we can be free to live and serve Him according to His will.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for leading us to freedom through this time in prison. If we didn’t have this time we would still be asleep and unaware, but You have struck us in order to awaken us. I ask that we would come out of this season more aware of Your will for our lives so that we can follow You more closely in these end times.
In Jesus name,
Amen
