The chief priests and the captain of the guard faced a dilemma. Their prisoners had disappeared in thin air. The prison remained locked, the guards were in place – but they were only guarding themselves. Then, before they could announce jailbreak, they were informed that the prisoners were hidden in plain sight. They were placing on the temple. No hiding place there. They were about God’s business. Yet, with all that, I suspect the religious leaders missed the point and the sign. I pray that that’s never our lot and that Today’s Holy Nougat
inspires us to be attuned to God always.
Acts 5:24-25 CEVDCI
[24] The captain of the temple police and the chief priests listened to their report, but they did not know what to think about it.
[25] Just then someone came in and said, “Now those men you put in jail are in the temple, teaching the people!”
Boldness revealed
They were not there. They were in the temple. Preaching.
I don’t know about you, but this jail break saga keeps feeling like God wanted the religious leaders to remember the resurrection. But they didn’t. Of course, at the resurrection, the tomb was wide open … and empty. But there were also Jesus sightings that defied reasonable explanations. He appeared in rooms without opening physical doors. The believers left a sealed room, and the locks were very much in place. Only God.
Self-Check
How do we react when God does the impossible for or around us?
Deeper Dive
Perhaps it wasn’t about the religious leaders, but strictly a matter of God fulfilling the prayer request of the believers. They asked for boldness, and boldness became jailbreak and preaching in the temple. These weren’t trained theologians. But they were in the temple teaching others about God’s love and mercy. If that’s the case, this is a great object lesson in trusting that God will do what God has promised.
Maybe we’re not faced with vindictive religious leaders. We might not be under attack in regard to jealousy at all. But we might have prayed for God to help us overcome fear, doubt, or some other issue that’s creating distance between us and Christ. If we look back over time, we just might see that God answered the prayer without us noticing. We just might realise that God still answers prayers [for boldness] by placing us in situations that demand extended faith. And that, with all that was before us, we met the issue head on and overcame.
God is big on integrity, which includes answering our prayers in due season. It may not be the answer we expect, for as a Good Shepherd, Y’shua will lead us alongside still waters. If our request will result in spiritual death, God’s answer is no. Yet at the height of our hunger, God feeds us right where our enemies can see us – hidden in plain sight.
Whatever the issue is, let’s place it on God’s shoulders, and – if need be – let’s ask for boldness to believe and overcome.
Point to Ponder
If God could break the believers out of a sealed prison cell, we can trust God to deliver us from the plans of the evil one.
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May all we seek be found in Christ
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