Asking

  

DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

ASKING

Acts 12:1-5

12:1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

NIV

Why do people oppose the truth? What would have been so terrible for Herod to accept Jesus as the Messiah? Jesus had not intended to take Herod’s throne. However, someone who wheels as much power as Herod did, in general, tend to look to self for whatever they wanted. Herod must have perceived the movement of Jesus followers was gaining too much of the attention of the people, taking away from his control over the people. So Herod started having believers arrested. Why would a man have another killed unless he considered that man a threat? Yet, there is also those who are eager to watch persecution as long as it is not happening to them. As we get into this narrative further, we are going to see the Lord save Peter, but why did he not save James from being run through with a sword? What is troubling, people were pleased that James was killed. Peter is snatched up and put in prison with the express intent of making a public display of killing Peter. The mind of man can commit such acts of evil. Therefore, we are admonished to have the mind of Christ. We do not have to wonder what was going through Peter’s mind as, although heavily guarded, in chains, Peter does not submit to despair. We find Peter praying, and we find the church praying earnestly to God for Peter’s situation. Do we think this was all the plan of God to demonstrate, once more, His divine power over all things? Maybe God did not have a plan for Peter, although we know Peter is in the plan of God, Jesus spoke that truth right to Peter. What we can learn from this is that God always has a plan and he has one for each one of us, as we follow Jesus. All throughout the scriptures, we see God unfolding or revealing His plan for certain people at specific times. This gives us an assurance that God is revealing his plan in and through our lives. Sometimes, we might have to walk under some amount of persecution, other times we might walk in prosperity and peace, secure and content within the plan of God. As Paul said and we should believe as well, that being content no matter the circumstances is based in truth and knowing that God has a plan. We will see Peter rescued, but we can say that God has already rescued us, he saved of from the miry pit, or as the psalmist puts, miry clay. We have been rescued by the mighty righteous right hand of God. Being a prisoner of sin, held in chains, God brought about an earthquake in our lives, and set us free, just as we will see in this situation with Peter. God will always show up if we ask. The church was asking God to show up, and we will see how powerfully He does.