In the twelfth chapter of Acts, King Herod goes on something of a rampage. First, he has the apostle James brutally murdered; and when he notices that it bumps his approval ratings among the Jews, he has Peter arrested. His plan is to have Peter beheaded on the anniversary of Jesus’ death. (How’s that for pouring salt in the wounds?)
It is the first major test of the early church’s faith. And how do they respond? Do they picket the prison, or file a legal injunction, or start writing angry letters to the emperor? No. Do they slump their shoulders, wring their hands, and begin preparing for Peter’s funeral? No, again. According to the book of Acts, they pray. They pray as if prayer was their only hope—because, in a sense, it was! They prayed “fervently to God,” writes Luke.
I mention this only because we sometimes think of prayer as a “last resort,” when it should probably be the first thing we do. After all, does the Apostle Paul tell us to preach without ceasing? Or teach without ceasing? Or have committee meetings without ceasing? No … but he does call upon us to “pray without ceasing.”
Did Jesus declare: My Father’s house will be called a house of study? Or fellowship? Or a multitude of programs and activities? No … but he did say: My Father’s house will be called “a house of prayer.”
In the face of a mountain-sized problem, the early church turns to the One who had once told them that, with faith the size of a mustard seed, they could move mountains. And lo and behold, on the night before Peter is to go on trial, he is awakened by an angel!
Never mind that he is surrounded by sixteen guards, who have all been told, “If this prisoner escapes, you die.” (Think of it as quality control, Herod style.) Never mind that he is bound hand-and-foot in chains behind not one, not two—but three locked doors. The angel simply tells Peter, “Get up, get dressed; it’s time to go.”
True, the Bible doesn’t guarantee that a miracle like this will occur every single time we pray for one. But it does guarantee to put us in touch with the One who performs such miracles. So maybe, instead of thinking of prayer as our last resort, we ought to make it our first priority!
It is the first major test of the early church’s faith. And how do they respond? Do they picket the prison, or file a legal injunction, or start writing angry letters to the emperor? No. Do they slump their shoulders, wring their hands, and begin preparing for Peter’s funeral? No, again. According to the book of Acts, they pray. They pray as if prayer was their only hope—because, in a sense, it was! They prayed “fervently to God,” writes Luke.
I mention this only because we sometimes think of prayer as a “last resort,” when it should probably be the first thing we do. After all, does the Apostle Paul tell us to preach without ceasing? Or teach without ceasing? Or have committee meetings without ceasing? No … but he does call upon us to “pray without ceasing.”
Did Jesus declare: My Father’s house will be called a house of study? Or fellowship? Or a multitude of programs and activities? No … but he did say: My Father’s house will be called “a house of prayer.”
In the face of a mountain-sized problem, the early church turns to the One who had once told them that, with faith the size of a mustard seed, they could move mountains. And lo and behold, on the night before Peter is to go on trial, he is awakened by an angel!
Never mind that he is surrounded by sixteen guards, who have all been told, “If this prisoner escapes, you die.” (Think of it as quality control, Herod style.) Never mind that he is bound hand-and-foot in chains behind not one, not two—but three locked doors. The angel simply tells Peter, “Get up, get dressed; it’s time to go.”
True, the Bible doesn’t guarantee that a miracle like this will occur every single time we pray for one. But it does guarantee to put us in touch with the One who performs such miracles. So maybe, instead of thinking of prayer as our last resort, we ought to make it our first priority!
posted by Dr. Robert Crilley at
6:41 PM
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