THURSDAY June 8, 2023
A Speedy Escape
So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
Acts 12:9-10
Peter was thinking, Is this for real? Am I in a dream or seeing a vision? Imagine, he had to pinch himself. He could not believe it. He carried on thinking, Am I really outside of the jail, and an angel is leading me? He continued to follow the angel, going speedily past guards and open doors. This was like a movie––doors opening––as he went straight through an opened iron gate! Incredible!
All of a sudden, Peter was all on his own. Notice the ministry of the angel. It was not to receive recognition, nor was the angel to be worshiped. Once the mission was completed, he just departed and went back to heaven. When Peter came around, because for a time he thought he was dreaming, he realized what had happened:
And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people” (Acts 12:11).
Does God still continue to do things like this today? Yes, He does! I have heard testimonies from Thailand and in South America. Have you ever experienced something like that? When you have had a dream, or vision, and God ministered to you divinely, were you left in shock, thinking, Was that real or not? Perhaps you felt like you needed to pinch yourself. Listen, God does astonishing things, not so an angel or a person is worshiped, but so the glory for what is revealed or done is given to God.
We give glory to God when we trust him to do what he has promised to do-especially when all human possibilities are exhausted. Faith glorifies God. That is why God planned for faith to be the way we are justified.
~John Piper~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
