Wednesday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 12
6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 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. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.†And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,†the angel ordered.
9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. 10 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.
11 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!â€
6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 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. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.†And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,†the angel ordered.
9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. 10 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.
11 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!â€
Commentary:
12:6–19 Peter’s Deliverance from Prison. Peter was half asleep throughout his “escape†from prison. The angel had to rouse him and direct him (vv. 7–8), and he remained in a stupor until the angel led him through the gates and into a side street (vv. 9–11).
Questions:
- Peter, who is imprisoned and facing torture or even death, is somehow fast asleep in his cell. This is crunch time! His trial is tomorrow... this should be reason to fret, right? But not Peter. He is apparently trusting the sovereignty of God. Perhaps he's remembering the words of Jesus when He told him that he'd die as a martyr. Perhaps he is resting in the promises of God. Real peace comes in the middle of trying circumstances, not in the absence of trouble. If you're in the middle of a trial, are you experiencing the peace that surpasses all understanding? If not, pray to the God of peace!
- In verse 11, Peter finally comes to his senses and realizes that God has saved him. God was teaching Peter that nothing is impossible for Him. God will often maneuver you into a seemingly impossible situation in order to reveal His power. He doesn't want you to just read about it, He wants to you EXPERIENCE it and to KNOW it! When was the last time you asked God to do the impossible? Do you really believe He's capable of delivering you? Ask God to grow your faith in Him!
Prayer Topics:
- That you would experience peace in the trial.
- That you would believe God for BIG things.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Since “all have sinned†and the “wages of sin is death,†Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
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