Be Quiet and Listen

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

BE QUIET AND LISTEN

Acts 12:12-17

 

12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!" 15 "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel." 16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place.

NIV

When in the natural world, in the physical realm, Peter’s situation in stocks, chained to two Roman soldiers, with more of them at the gate to his cell, was grim. He had nothing to look forward to except death. What is impossible with men, is possible for God. Now Peter is a free man, sort of, as he is still under arrest, however, he is not in chains, in a cell, but out walking in the streets. He heads to the house of Mary, and this somewhat funny little story unfolds. Once again, believers could not see past the physical realm, thinking Peter was in prison, therefore, he could not be at the door. They even told this innocent eyewitness to the fact Peter was at the door, that she was out of her mind. That is faith at work. Had the church already forgotten all the miracles, all the signs, and wonders, and given up on excepting any more miracles? Yet, here was Peter, at the door, and when they did recognize the truth, they were astonished. Once again, faith at work. Why would not the new church be filled with people who had extreme faith, having witnessed Jesus firsthand? No, they were astonished that God would or could do something like getting Peter out of prison. This is our story, as Peter motions for them to just listen, he testified to what God has done. We too need to motion people to just listen and tell them how God rescued us from the miry clay, how he set our feet on solid ground, has forgiven all our sins, and bestowed eternal life on us, all free, without a cost, except to believe. We need to talk more about what God has done in our lives. This should be the main focus of our purpose in life. We cannot think that because God saved us, he can save others without us. Well, he can, the Spirit is about convicting people of their sin and need for repentance, but who will the Spirit tell to go and tell them about Jesus, and the good news regarding the kingdom of heaven? We need to be ready, willing, and able to tell our story whenever we can, we just need to motion them to be quiet and listen. Of course, that also applies to us. We must be quiet and listen to the voice of the Spirit within and we will know what door to knock on.