Follow Me

Acts 12:1-23 (June 18)

While Barnabus and Saul were taking aid to the elders in Jerusalem, King Herod was persecuting believers in the church. He had James killed with a sword and then went after Peter. He put Peter in prison, with many guards around him and chained to him to await his trial.

Peter most likely felt the burden of being captive. He most likely felt there was no means of escape. But the night before his trial, an angel of the Lord came to Peter while he was chained to the guards. This angel woke him up and caused the chains to fall off. Then the angel spoke two significant words to Peter, "Follow me."

Peter followed the angel, thinking he was having a vision. They passed all the guards and went through the gate to the city before the angel left him.

Peter finally realized it wasn't a vision. "It's really true!" he said. "The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!"

I can imagine what an experience this must have been for him, and he wanted to share the news. (Wouldn't you?) So, he went to the home of Mary where many were gathered in prayer. When he knocked, the servant girl named Rhoda came to open the door. She was so excited and filled with joy when she realized it was Peter.

Noone believed her when she went and told them that Peter was there. He kept knocking until they finally opened the door then he told them all that had happened.

You can imagine the surprise of the soldiers when they went to get him out of his cell, and he was gone! Herod ordered a search, questioned the guards that were watching him, and sentenced them to death. Unsure of where Peter might be, Herod left Judea and went to stay in Caesarea for a while.

The people of Tyre and Sidon came to make peace with Herod, because he was angry with them, and they depended on his country for food. They managed to get his personal assistant to listen to them and he got them an appointment with Herod.

When he met with them in his royal robes, he gave them a speech. Wanting to get on his good side, they gave him a great ovation, saying, "It's the voice of a god, no of a man!"

As you can imagine, Herod enjoyed all their praise instead of correcting them. So, an angel of the Lord struck him with sickness because he took all the glory instead of giving it to God. Herod died because he did not follow God.

Peter heard the words "Follow me." He listened and obeyed. What about us? Do we hear God whisper in our stillness and uncertainty, when we don't know which way to turn? Do we hear his gentle "Follow me"?

Or do we spend our time looking for answers from other sources, wasting precious time following the world instead of the Creator of the world?

Peter listened and received rich blessings... his life was spared so that he could continue the work of God. The same is waiting for us. God will save our lives, he will bless us according to his good riches, and he will direct our paths. All we have to do is heed the call when we hear him say, "Follow me!"