Have You Ever Done Anything Strange?

 

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

   “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  - Topic -is a loaded question!  Show me someone who 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 - 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 doorbell 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 4:9b  tells us a strand of three (you, your prayer partner and the Holy Spirit) cannot be broken.

Blessings,

Gramps