Saturday, May 2: Acts 12- A life in God's hands.

Peter has been serving the Lord and His church since the beginning. God used him to bring many to faith. He has been arrested for his faith and has testified to religious leaders. But this imprisonment was different. Herod had his friend, and apostle, James killed and now Peter was imprisoned awaiting the same fate. Only the festival of the Passover delayed his death. Herod was currying favor with the Jews so he would certainly wait till after the festival to put Peter to death.

The church, naturally, was praying. They had seen God deliver brothers before. But they had also seen brothers executed. God’s answer to their prayers was God’s alone.

The night before his impending execution, God intervenes and leads Peter to safety, miraculously walking right past guards and through locked doors! Once free, he goes to where the church is earnestly praying; they are shocked! Peter shares his miraculous story and then goes elsewhere, likely for his and everyone else’s safety.

I met a man from Africa, a Muslim from a chieftain family, who converted and was imprisoned to be killed as an example to others who would convert. He, too, was escorted out of prison by an angel, like Peter. I have never experienced anything like this but I believe it.

And as I sat this morning I realized that my life is every bit as much in God’s hands as Peter and my African acquaintance was. Every day I get in a car and drive the highways. Countless accidents could happen to me or diseases attack me or this or that. But I am still alive… and this by the grace of God. God’s hand sustains me just as God’s hand led Peter from prison.

This morning as the sun rises I am readying myself to live another day by God’s grace. And my prayer as I begin my day is that I live it for Jesus, the Father and Spirit.

Lord may this be so… Amen.