He Was Asleep …

Acts 12:1-6 – Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, in order to mistreat them. And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people. So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. And on the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. (NASB)

How could he sleep? His fellow disciple, James, had just been done to death with a sword. Peter is next. He's chained to two guards, one on each side, with two more watching the door. And he's sleeping!

In this simple statement of fact, there is a beautiful picture of "the peace that passes all understanding". It is the peace of Christ — the peace that tells us that whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. This is the blessed assurance that accompanies us in every circumstance. In this case Peter was delivered. It is not always the case. But the peace is.

Prayer: Holy Father, in the name of your Son Jesus, we pray for that peace, not the peace of idleness, but peace in the midst of the life and the hours before us this day. Amen.

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