Rescued
When I was a kid, I loved watching this show called “Emergency” where these two paramedics would save people from car accidents, burning buildings, etc… They were the rescuers. It made for some interesting television and I’m sure the ratings were high, if they counted that sort of thing way back then! I’ve grown older now and I know people who serve in those positions of rescue and it’s a very fulfilling part of their job to save lives of people who without them would surely die.
Peter had a serious rescue when he was about to be publicly tried and most likely executed by King Herod. His friend and brother in the faith, James had already been killed by Herod. So Peter is in jail and the church is diligently praying for him. Check this out….
6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. 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 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. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” (Acts 12:6-14 NIV)
This rescue was incredible. I believe that God still does amazing things just like this! I believe that God has the Power and the Resources to rescue me from anything. I do believe that sometimes the journey through the struggle is what equips me to grow and mature in Him. I don’t like pain and I don’t like suffering, but both are part of my life as a human being. I often wish for miraculous rescue from tough times, pain or struggle. For some reason, God chooses not to rescue me – but He walks with me through it. His Presence often feels like I’ve been rescued. In fact His Presence reveals that I’m am rescued. I am rescued from the clutches of sin and the destruction that it brings. I am an individual that has experienced a miracle rescue from certain death. I’m grateful to my Rescuer!
Pressing On! Dwayne