now when herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. and behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. he struck peter on the side and woke him, saying, “get up quickly.” and the chains fell off his hands. and the angel said to him, “dress yourself and put on your sandals.” dnd he did so. dnd he said to him, “wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” and he went out and followed him. he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. when they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. it opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. when peter came to himself, he said, “now i am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of herod and from all that the jewish people were expecting.” [acts 12:6-11]
these stories can be hard to relate to. i often long for some form of major move of God in my life like this, whether deliverance, healing, etc.
however, when reading this passage, i realize that this story of peter’s physical life parallels my and each of our salvation story. before we knew Jesus, we were in the bondage of sin and death. i think at times the enemy tricks us into forgetting that we were in bondage. he attempts to deceive us back towards sin with lies of how satisfying or fulfilling it will be.
i pray today that we would be reminded that it took an act of God to free us from that bondage. it took the work of Jesus to free us for all eternity.
may we praise God today for his move in our lives!
~ john sandman