Peace -- What is it?

Acts 12: 1-11

There is a beautiful story in Acts that I feel speaks to peace. Peter is a wonderful example in this portion of Scripture.

When we (people) have something on our minds, we tend to hash it over and over, sometimes worrying and fretting.

Not so with Peter.

From the shrinking coward in the denial of Jesus in John 18,

to the man who determined to return to fishing in John 21,

to the godly man of God,

                                                      Peter was a force to be faced.

He saw James, John's brother killed and knew that as he was arrested, his fate would probably be the same unless God intervened. However, he did not worry or fret. The Scripture says he was so sound asleep that the "angel" of the Lord had to slap him on the side to awaken him! He was chained to guards and had 4 squadrons (16) guarding him. I wonder why? He wasn't a real menace to society. They must have believed that God would do something?  Maybe they knew they were in the wrong for arresting him!!! Anyway, Peter was sleeping, as the old saying goes, "like a baby." Now that's PEACE of mind, heart and soul. God looked on that and rewarded with intervention.

Peter knew what sometimes you and I lose sight of, that is, God is always in control whether we see it or feel it! He doesn't always deliver the way we think He ought to (James died), but He promises to always be with us to see us through. WE CAN TRUST HIM. Everything that happens to us has to pass through HIS hands, therefore we can thank HIM for it.

 

L. Diz