Have You Ever Done Anything Strange?

Holy Land Picture of the Day

Capernaum Today's picture is of the ruins of Capernaum, which is mentioned several times in the Gospels, including Mark 1: 21-22; "They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He (Jesus) entered the synagogue and began to teach. They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

  

“Because of her joy, she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was

standing in front of the gate.” (Acts. 12:5).

Hey Gang:  Now, that is a loaded question!  Show me someone that has never done anything

Strange, and I will show you a person that has lived their life in a box.  But then again, would that

not be strange?

When we chose to leave California and good jobs, and home and excellent chances for climbing

the  corporate ladder to become an unemployed director of a non-existent boys home, most folks

thought we were strange.  You’re going to do what? Was the premier question.  Even our families

thought we were a wee bit unattached.

But as I read the Word I find that there are many examples of people who did very strange things:

like, talk to donkeys, pack up all their earthly possessions and move to a place they had no idea

where they were going…  At least we had an idea where we were going.

In today’s Scripture we find Peter has been set free from prison by an angel of the Lord and went to

the house of Mary, where many of the followers of Jesus were praying for that precise thing to

happen.

James had been executed and Herod was planning on adding Peter to the “dearly departed” the

next morning.  One might think that he (Peter) would be on his knees pleading with God to intervene

on his behalf ,but strange as it may seem, he was sleeping!  He was not mentioned in the Hebrew’s

Hall of Faith but he certainly qualified for membership.

The church was praying for him and God was at work on the other side of the city dispatching

an angel to set Peter free.   When Peter arrived at the gate of Mary’s house and rang the door

bell Rhoda came to answer, and ,in her excitement left Peter standing at the gate and went to

tell the others.  Now, that folks, is strange.

Soooo, let’s look beyond the strangeness to the source of the power of this story.  Have you ever

felt like your prayers were like bricks that fall to the ground as soon as they are uttered. If so,

perhaps you need someone to agree with you in prayer.  Jesus did say, “If two or you agree

about anything…it will be done for you by My Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:19). Ecclesiastes

tells us a strand of three (you, your prayer partner and the Holy Spirit) cannot be broken.

.

Blessings,