“About that time King Herod laid hands on some from the church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, executed with a sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too.” (Acts 12:1-3)
Having the faith in God to serve him, can be scary and intimidating. In fact, it is supposed to be. If your plans, if your faith are not intimidating to you, they are insulting to God. Because is you can do it in your own competency and comfort, then there is no faith involved. You can do it, you don’t need God. It is in those plans that if God does not show up we are screwed that you need faith, you need God. We cannot afford to be of smaller faith.
You do have those who’s great faith ended happily in this world, on this side of glory:
o Daniel's deliverance from the lion's den in Dan. 6,
o Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace Dan. 3.
o Those are found in Hebrews 11:17-35a
“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead.
By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection.” You have in this chapter of Acts 12 the story of Peter being miraculously free. These stories all ended in a “Happy ending” as these persons names were entered into heaven’s hall of fame.
But you also have Hebrews 11:35b-40. It does not always end in a happy ending in this world, on this side of glory.
“Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”
You have as we read in Acts 7, Stephen, who was stoned and in this chapter James who was behead.
How the story turns out on earth has nothing to do with whether you enter the Hall of Faith or not. How the story turns out on earth has nothing to do with whether God is glorified or not. It may not have a happy ending on this side, but on the other side God is glorified. But whether it turns out happy or sad by earthly standards, cannot take away or hinder the glory that comes from big faith.
God delights and honors that big faith. Like Caleb and Joshua in Canna, Numbers chapter 13, who said, “Let us go up and occupy it, for we are well able to conquer it.” They are not looking at the problems, they are looking at their God.
My family, As I stated above, if your plans are not intimidating to you, they are insulting to God. What are your plans for serving God and living out your faith? Do they really even require faith? Or are you simply “following Jesus” and “carrying your cross” in a routine way that you can handle and that fits your schedule? Do you have plans you are stepping out in big faith and trying to achieve that you are on your knees fasting and praying for God’s help and provisions because if He does not show up you are screwed? I pray as we read through Acts and the amazing big faith of those that birthed The Church, you will reflect and pray on your level of faith, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections from reading Acts chapter 12 As we read through these chapters, though certain verses in each chapter stood out to me that I comment and pray on, other verses probably stood out to you. Please share this with us.
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