Prayer Journal
Saturday, May 25, 2002
"Herod intended to bring him to trial after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him". Acts 12:4-5
Passover is the appointed time each year for the Jew to take the life of an innocent lamb, and spread its blood over the door of his home. This was in remembrance of the Angel of Death passing over the homes of the Israelites who lived in Egyptian captivity.
The account of Herod's planned execution of Peter sounds all too familiar. You remember the previous Passover don't you? Jesus ate the Passover supper with his disciples in the Upper Room. Afterwards he and the disciples went to the Gethsemane to pray. It was then that Judas betrayed Jesus to the Jewish authorities who arrested him and held kangaroo court before the Sanhedrin.
After declaring him guilty on fabricated charges, the Jewish leaders insulted him and beat him. They then took him to Pilate to be executed. At the same time Peter was in the courtyard denying to a servant girl that he ever associated with Jesus. (Re: Mark 14:66) But where were the other disciples? They weren't haven't a joint prayer meeting for Jesus' release. They were each running for their life, afraid to be associated with Jesus and possibly executed alongside him.
The parallel nature of the Acts account are uncanny. This time, the disciples were together and were in fact praying for Peter's release. It was not Jesus who was to be killed, but Peter. God answered their prayer and assisted by an angel, Peter made his way to the place where the other disciples were meeting. And who opened the door but another servant girl, this one named Rhoda?
What can we learn from this account of Peter's miraculous escape from prison? We ought always to pray. It's as simple as that. Who knows but the angels aren't waiting in line to deliver the answer to our front door?
Just Thinkin'.. WebServant
Scripture comes from
the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International
Bible Society
Copyright © 1998,2002
James R. Green and Prayertower Ministries - All Rights Reserved
I'll pray today for...
* My spouse
* My children
* Their friends
* My friends
* My employer
* My city
* My country
* Civic leaders
* Schools
* Teachers
* The sick
* The lost
* Those in despair
* The hospitalized
* The grieving
* Widows
* Orphans
* My church
* My pastor
* Church leaders
* Other churches
* Persecuted church
* Missionaries
* Myself
