Post by hszoo on Feb 27, 2005 14:07:45 GMT -5
Acts 12:6-7
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
KJV
You know, Peter was really doing some deep sleeping while he was in prison. There he was, in a cell and chained between two guards just snoozing up a storm. I don't know that I've ever rested that well here at home in my own bed! But Peter did!
Why? He was secure in the knowledge that no matter what his circumstances were, his Lord was there with him and would see him through it. Even if it meant his suffering and death, Jesus was there to comfort him and give him great peace. He accepted that. He owned it. He lived it. A far cry from the Peter who sank in the waves or who denied his Lord, huh?
The angel had to smack him to wake him up from that sleep! Can you imagine? "Peter, wake up. PETER, WAKE UP!" **SMACK** "Now let's go. The chains are off and you can walk out of here. Now hurry, sleepyhead!" This prison and those chains weren't meant to hold him just yet. Peter still had more work to do for the Lord and the Lord saw to it that he was freed from those chains and on his way to doing that work.
Isn't that where so many of us are right now? Bound by chains of earthly trials? Are we resting as peacefully as Peter did, or are we wringing our hands and walking the floor? (I'm talking to myself very much here!) Where is that peace beyond understanding in our life? Where is that assurance that He will never leave us nor forsake us? Where is that confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ?
I know I really need to confess those truths daily and own them as my own reality instead of some "out there" possibility. Until I do, I'll never rest as Peter did.
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
KJV
You know, Peter was really doing some deep sleeping while he was in prison. There he was, in a cell and chained between two guards just snoozing up a storm. I don't know that I've ever rested that well here at home in my own bed! But Peter did!
Why? He was secure in the knowledge that no matter what his circumstances were, his Lord was there with him and would see him through it. Even if it meant his suffering and death, Jesus was there to comfort him and give him great peace. He accepted that. He owned it. He lived it. A far cry from the Peter who sank in the waves or who denied his Lord, huh?
The angel had to smack him to wake him up from that sleep! Can you imagine? "Peter, wake up. PETER, WAKE UP!" **SMACK** "Now let's go. The chains are off and you can walk out of here. Now hurry, sleepyhead!" This prison and those chains weren't meant to hold him just yet. Peter still had more work to do for the Lord and the Lord saw to it that he was freed from those chains and on his way to doing that work.
Isn't that where so many of us are right now? Bound by chains of earthly trials? Are we resting as peacefully as Peter did, or are we wringing our hands and walking the floor? (I'm talking to myself very much here!) Where is that peace beyond understanding in our life? Where is that assurance that He will never leave us nor forsake us? Where is that confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ?
I know I really need to confess those truths daily and own them as my own reality instead of some "out there" possibility. Until I do, I'll never rest as Peter did.