"Be Like Pete" September 19 Readings: Acts 12

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Today's Reading -  Acts 12


Background


Acts 12 is about two deaths and a life. 

It begins with the martyrdom of James, the Son of Thunder, who asked to be at the right hand or left of the Savior in his kingdom but instead had the privilege of going to the presence of Christ, dying by the sword at Herod's command. The chapter ends with Herod himself dying at the hand of God's angel, struck down because of his pride. 

In the middle is the story of Peter's deliverance from the clutches of Herod. Why did God rescue Peter and allow James to die? Questions like that seldom have easy answers. God loved both and neither had displeased him. But in his sovereign plan, James' time was done and Peter had many years left. 

It is important to note that God's love and grace are seen in his presence and his power, not in success or deliverance. Both men were loved, both were faithful. One died and the other was delivered. 

Devotional - Be Like Pete


He was scheduled to die the next day. He'd seen his friend James put to the sword by Herod and it was his turn the next morning. The church was fervently praying that their leader would be spared by God's power. Peter was chained to two guards and the door was guarded by two others. You can imagine the stress that Peter felt knowing that he was about to die, right? Act 12:6 tells us exactly how anxious Peter was.

He was sleeping.

That's right. With his life hanging in the balance, with the sword about to fall on his neck, chained and guarded by soldiers all around, Peter was at rest. He had such faith in God's plan that he was free of worry and care. If he died, he would see Jesus again. If he lived he would serve him. And he was leaving the choice in God's hand.

We know the rest of the story - and it is one of the funniest in the Bible, one I used to tell my children at bedtime! God set Peter free and he returned to the church that was praying for his release and they refused to believe that he was really at the door. They were fervent in prayer but couldn't believe that their prayers were actually being answered by God. But he was free and by God's grace, Peter continued to serve God for many years to come, until he finally gave his life for the cause of Christ. 

But that is not the focus today. Today we think of Peter's faith, his absolute confidence in the power and goodness of God. Just consider it, my friends. Facing death, he was at rest in the sovereign care of the Father. He trusted the Savior so much that suffering and even death seemed small things. 

I want that kind of faith. I don't have it, but I want it.  I want to trust God so much that live or die, good or ill, victory or defeat, riches or poverty, I rest in the hands of God and trust his goodness. No worry. No stress. No falling apart. No anger. Just faith and trust. That is the kind of man I want to be. I have a long way to go, but that is the goal.

I want to be like Pete!
Father, forgive me when I have been a faithless man, worrying and stressing over every little thing. Help me to trust you not only for my eternity, but for today.

Think and Pray


Do you trust in the plan of God for your life or do you live in worry? 
When you pray, do genuinely expect God to act or are you faithless like the church that did not believe that Peter's deliverance was real? 



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