GOD’S WORD FOR JANUARY 12

Our  book this month  is a continuation of “Chiseled by the Master’s Hand ~ Lessons From the Life of Peter,” by Erwin  Lutzer.  Dr. Lutzer is  Canadian-born and served as Senior Pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years, until his retirement in 2016.   He now serves as Pastor Emeritus of Moody Church.  He’s written many books and has radio and internet teaching programs.

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KEPT IN THE MASTER’S HAND (Chapter 12)

(Read Acts 12:1-25)

God expects us to see His hand even in the night of our experience.  Often we must descent into darkness in order to see the light.  To those who have faith, God’s fingerprint can often be spotted in the most unlikely places.

We’re learned that God transformed Peter from an impulsive, fearful man to a leader with strength and even-tempered dependability.  As the one who was given “the keys of the kingdom,” he proclaimed the gospel  to the Samaritans and the Gentiles undeterred by formidable obstacles.   Under the good hand of God he also performed remarkable miracles, and had the privilege of looking back on a life filled with the clear evidence of God’s guidance.

But there were times when it appeared as if Peter’s enemies would triumph.  By all appearances, his life was on the verge of being cut short.  God put Peter in a corner with no known way of escape.  His future was to be determined by forces beyond his control.  Like a driver whose steering wheel becomes disconnected, there are times when our fate is quite literally out of our hands.

Yet these experiences only deepened Peter’s walk of faith.  His knowledge of God and His ways blossomed in the midst of a fiery trial that might have intimidated a lesser man.  Though it was dark on earth, Peter knew that the lights were on in heaven.

Recall that on the night Christ was betrayed, Peter had promised, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death.”  But that very night he slept when he should have been praying, and later that same evening denied his Lord.

Now fourteen years have passed.  On several occasions Peter had fulfilled the first part of his promise; he spent many nights in jail because of his love for Christ.  In Acts 12 we have the dramatic story of one of those imprisonments and a miraculous escape.  The story weaves together three links in the chain of divine providence that testify to the sovereign power and wisdom of God.

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John 1:5

And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it.

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Psalm 11:2

For, behold, the wicked bend the bow, They have set their arrow on the string To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.

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Isaiah 58:10

And if you offer yourself to the hungry And satisfy the need of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness, And your gloom will become like midday.

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Psalm 18:28

For You light my lamp; The Lord my God illumines my darkness.

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Psalm 112:4

Light shines in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious, compassionate, and righteous.

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Psalm 139:12

Even darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.

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Isaiah 5:20

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

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