Where Is My Faith? (Part 2)

I realize it's easy to save the best for last but in the order these examples of faith are given in Acts 12, the apostle Peter is next. I'm glad Peter is the one who is a part of this story. When the word faith is mentioned with Peter, too often it's in a negative context. We think of the time he lost faith when trying to walk on the water towards Jesus. Of course we also remember that he denied Jesus three times the night before He was crucified. Adding insult to injury he did that after telling Jesus he would never deny Him.

Yet here Peter is in Acts 12 as a glowing example of a growing, solid faith. I like that. That shows me a person can grow in their faith. Our faith has to be growing. Faith is not and cannot be stagnet. It's either growing or dying. Too often when we talk about faith I'm afraid we don't get much beyond saying it's our belief in God. James 2:19 tells us it has to be much more than that. Otherwise we're on the same level as the "...demons believe - and tremble." James goes on to remind us of the importance of faithful works in conjunction with our belief.

Think abou the things that keep us awake at night; the concerns we have about different aspects of our lives. Now imagine Peter in that prison in Acts 12. He knows what's happened to James. Certainly he would feel sorrow. He knows that he is living through what is intended to be the last night of his life. He is literally hours away from being killed if things go according to Herod's plan. He has four squads of Roman soldiers guarding him; 16 soldiers. He is chained to two of these soldiers, one on either side of him. Yet look at verse 6. He slept. Imagine yourself in Peter's position. How are you spending that night? Peter is confident in his faith. He has grown. He feels secure and has a quiet acceptance while waiting for God's time. That's what a living faith does!

Verses 7 through 10 tells how Peter was released from the prison and taken through the streets of Jerusalem. We have no evidence that Peter did anything other than obey. In verse 11 he acknowledges God's hand in what's happened to him. He's been sustained by a faith that comforted him knowing that whatever happens, God is in charge. That's what we need, a growing, living faith where we trust Him and let faith take control. Allow ourselves to be led by the will of God.