“Rescued Me”
While
Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.
The
very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two
chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door
were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and
a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying,
“Get up quickly.” And the chains fell of his wrists. Then the angel said to
him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to
him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” Peter went out and followed
him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and the
second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened
for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when
suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I am sure
that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and
from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
As
soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John
whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. When he
knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. On recognizing
Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran
in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You
are out of your mind!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his
angel.” Meanwhile Peter continued knocking; they saw him and were amazed. He
motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and described for them how the
Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he added, “Tell this to James and
to the believers.” Then he left and went to another place.
Acts 12:5-17
Prayer
made a difference in Peter’s life and it can in your life and mine. It is not
always easy to pray, for real intercession takes self-discipline. Many of us
lapse into saying great words without truly praying. God often drives us to our
knees through the press of circumstances, where we are to seek the Lord and His
strength, and to seek His face forever.
God and prayer go together;
to neglect one
is to neglect the
other.
Our Daily Bread –