Monday, October 23, 2017

Angel Jail-break

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 12:1-12

TO CHEW ON: "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." Acts 12:5

Peter was in big trouble. After King Herod killed James, he arrested Peter. For days Peter had been in a cramped, uncomfortable jail, chained and guarded by sixteen soldiers.

The night before Herod was going to put him on trial Peter was asleep in his cell. He was awakened by strange man shaking him. “Quick, get up and get dressed!” the man said. The cell was filled with light even though it was the middle of the night. Then his chains fell off.


Peter's miraculous escape from prison - Artist unknownPeter's miraculous escape from prison - Artist unknown

I must be dreaming Peter thought as he pulled on his clothes, wrapped his cloak around him, and followed the man out of the prison. It was not until he had walked a block or two and his companion disappeared that Peter realized - I’m not dreaming. This is real. I was just set free by an angel!

ST. Peter delivered from prison - Gustave Dore
He went to the home of his friends. What had they been doing while he was in jail? _____________ (Acts 12:5)

What do you do when things are desperate?
- Call an ambulance or the police?
- Call a doctor?
- Call a lawyer?
- Start a petition?
- Start an email campaign?
- Pray?

When things are at their worst, when there’s no way out, when a bad ending is certain we can pray, just like the church prayed for Peter. The God who got Peter out of prison 2000 years ago is still our God today!

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please remind me to invite You into all my desperate situations. Amen.

MORE: Angels
What do you think:
- Do angels exist?
- Have you ever seen one?
- Could you tell if someone was an angel and not just an ordinary person? How?

ANSWERS 

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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