Today's Scripture
TODAY’S READING SCHEDULE: Psalms 16 -17; Acts 12
Praying earnestly – Acts 12:1-17
About that time King Herod began to harass some who belonged to the church. 2 He had James, John’s brother, killed with a sword. 3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter as well. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 He put Peter in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers, sixteen in all, who guarded him. He planned to charge him publicly after the Passover. 5 While Peter was held in prison, the church offered earnest prayer to God for him.
6 The night before Herod was going to bring Peter’s case forward, Peter was asleep between two soldiers and bound with two chains, with soldiers guarding the prison entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel from the Lord appeared and a light shone in the prison cell. After nudging Peter on his side to awaken him, the angel raised him up and said, “Quick! Get up!” The chains fell from his wrists. 8 The angel continued, “Get dressed. Put on your sandals.” Peter did as he was told. The angel said, “Put on your coat and follow me.” 9 Following the angel, Peter left the prison. However, he didn’t realize the angel had actually done all this. He thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself. After leaving the prison, they proceeded the length of one street, when abruptly the angel was gone.
11 At that, Peter came to his senses and remarked, “Now I’m certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod and from everything the Jewish people expected.” 12 Realizing this, he made his way to Mary’s house. (Mary was John’s mother; he was also known as Mark.) Many believers had gathered there and were praying. 13 When Peter knocked at the outer gate, a female servant named Rhoda went to answer. 14 She was so overcome with joy when she recognized Peter’s voice that she didn’t open the gate. Instead, she ran back in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.
15 “You’ve lost your mind!” they responded. She stuck by her story with such determination that they began to say, “It must be his guardian angel.”16 Meanwhile, Peter remained outside, knocking at the gate. They finally opened the gate and saw him there, and they were astounded.
17 He gestured with his hand to quiet them down, then recounted how the Lord led him out of prison. He said, “Tell this to James and the brothers and sisters.” Then he left for another place.
What does this passage mean to me/us?
Passover was when Jesus went through a trial and was crucified on the cross. The movement of the followers grew stronger, Herod, who must have been thretend by their movment and wanted to stop it by arresting their leader.
The church was under a time facing the possibility of the end of their community.
In the time of the trial, the church got together and prayed. Acts says, “While Peter was held in prison, the church offered earnest prayer to God for him” (v.5).
It is a bit funny that they did not fully beleive in the power of prayer, as we see how they told the little girl , who announced that their prayer was answered, “You’ve lost your mind!” However, the Bible shares how they prayed earnestly.
In the time of difficulties, we are called to pray earnestly and to wait for God to work in our lives.
God works in ways beyond our understanding, when we pray. So prayer is to expect and wait for God to work in our lives, in God’s way. Sometimes, we might witness how God works and say ‘I must be out of my mind.’ So we are to pray for God to work in God’s ways.
What is God asking us to pray earnestly?
Prayer
Lord, help us to rely on to your promise, knowing that you listen to our prayers. Help us to pray earnestly. In Christ name, we pray, Amen.
Click to subscribe to our Daily Devotion.
You will receive a devotion in your inbox every morning.