GOD’S WORD FOR JANUARY 15

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.

*** ***

KEPT IN THE MASTER’S HAND

(Read Acts 12:1-25)

PETER WAS VINDICATED

A third link in God’s providential chain was the death of Herod.  This king went to Caesarea and, according to Josephus, dressed in shimmering silver to deliver an address to his followers.  We read, “And the people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”  Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.” (Acts 12:22-23).

Josephus, in his “Antiquities of the Jews”, gives us the details of this event.  He describes the great multitude that came to see Herod, who on the second day put on the garment of silver tissue.  Some of his followers cried out that he was a god and not a man.  Then a severe pain arose within him and he showed signs of violent torment.  Five days later he died.

Obviously, the king should not have received the worship that was coming to his direction.  When the people wanted to deify him, he should have pointed out that he was indeed only a man.  But because he took the glory that belongs to God alone, he was smitten and died a painful death of worms.

An important phrase in this chapter is repeated.  In verse 7 we read that an angel of the Lord struck Peter, and in verse 23 we read that an angel of the Lord struck Herod.  Of course, I can’t prove it, but I believe that this was the same angel.  The angel struck Peter to awaken him to the fact that something good was about to happen in his life.  But the angel struck Herod to let him know that something bad was about to come upon him.  At one time the angel was a messenger of life and hope; at the other time he was a messenger of death and despair.

But what does all this mean?  Why these providential links in God’s plan for Peter’s life?  The Lord never performs miracles simply that we might stand in awe of His power.  He does not open an iron gate to fascinate the curious and to close the mouths of the unbelieving world.  There is always a hidden purpose, insights that we must learn from these providential occurrences.

Here are three lessons that Peter learned as a result of the miracle God did in Jerusalem:

First, GOD IS SOVEREIGN.  Notice that James was killed with the sword but Peter lived.  The martyr was James, the son of Zebedee, the brother of Apostle John.  He was among the three most favored disciples, present at the Mount of Transfiguration and invited by Christ to share the agony of Gethsemane.  Did God abandon James?  Though we do not even know what this martyr’s final words were, we can be confident that he too was a man of faith, and the Lord was with him to the end, though his life was cut short.  He too died within the will of God.

Of course, the church was praying for Peter’s release, but perhaps they had prayed for James as well.  Regardless, God could have delivered James with or without the people’s prayers, and he could have done the same for Peter quite apart from prayer.  We know that the church was praying within God’s will though not with an overabundance of faith.  But the fact is that God wanted James to DIE FOR HIS GLORY, and He wanted Peter to LIVE FOR HIS GLORY, and only God makes those choices.

*** ***

Psalm 115:3

But our God is in heaven;  He does whatever He pleases.

*** ***

Colossians 1:17

 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

*** ***

Psalm 103:19

The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

*** ***

Isaiah 45:7

I form the light and create darkness,  I make peace and create calamity;  I, the Lord, do all these things.’

*** ***

Isaiah 40:23

He brings the princes to nothing;  He makes the judges of the earth useless.

*** ***

Ephesians 1:11

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

*** ***

Isaiah 46:10

Declaring the end from the beginning,  and from ancient times things that are not yet done,

Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,  and I will do all My pleasure,’

*** ***

Jeremiah 10:23

O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself;  it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

*** ***

Proverbs 19:21

There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.

*** ***

Proverbs 16:9

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

*** ***

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

View all posts by liveinthelightofourlord