NIGERIAN BAPTIST CONVENTION SEEK DAILY (NBC) Monday, December 11 PETER DELIVERED

RBT: Colossians 1-4

Memory Verse: “Then Peter came to himself and said, now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen”. Acts 12:11, NIV

Bible Text: Acts 12:11-17

12:11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” 

12:12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 

12:13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. 

12:14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” 

12:15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” 

12:16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 

12:17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

Dean Koontz said, “None of us can ever save himself; we are the instruments of one another's salvation, and only by the hope that we give to others do we lift ourselves out of the darkness into light.” 

King Herod martyred James and, because it pleased the Jews, he picked Peter to be killed. Peter was securely locked up in prison, but it didn't stop God from doing what He wanted to do. God sent His angel to deliver Peter because the church was praying earnestly to God. And even though they were praying for his deliverance, their faith was little because they were surprised and shocked and didn't believe it when Rhoda told them Peter had already arrived.

This is to tell us that, as Christians, if little faith can work wonders, much more will happen if we have increased faith in God. Putting total trust in God is one of the bravest things a believer can do. Another thing that led Peter to his deliverance was obedience. He totally obeyed without questioning the angel of God.

As believers let's learn to obey God even at the worst of times. If Peter did not obey, would he have got his freedom? Let's trust in God totally and obey every bit of His will for us today.

Insight: Trust in God with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

Prayer: LORD, help me to obey and trust You in every step I take.