Home - a place where there is love, harmony and encouragement in being together. But many homes are nothing like that! Let us visit a home and learn the secret of great happiness and peace; something we all need to learn about.
The people who had gathered at the home of Mary had all something in common - life was proving very difficult and painful for all of them. King Herod had had one of their number “put to death by the sword”. Now another one had been arrested, and was waiting a mock “trial”, which would likely result in his death also. (Acts 12:1-5.)
The only “crime” they were all guilty of was that they believed the true Christian faith! God’s Word warns us, “everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2ndTimothy 3:12. John 15:18-25.)
These persecuted people sought God’s help in prayer. (verse 12. Acts 12:5.) Meantime, unknown to them, God had wonderfully answered their prayers, and Peter had miraculously been set free by an angel. (Acts 12:6-11.)
He made his way to “the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark … Peter knocked at the outside door and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. She recognised Peter’s voice and was so happy that she ran back in, without opening the door, and announced that Peter was standing outside. ‘You’re out of your mind!’ they told her.” (verses l2-15.) But Rhoda’s joy and happiness were real. She insisted it was Peter. “Peter kept on knocking.” (verses 15-16.)
UNBELIEF was robbing Rhoda’s friends of the joy they should have had. They couldn’t believe their troubles had been completely turned around by God, for their good. (Romans 8:28.)
Every true Christian should know that God, their Heavenly Father, can be trusted to bring good out of even the worst experiences of life. (Job 1:21. 2:10. Ephesians 3:20-21.) Even the tragedies of life can bring glory to His name, and good to His true people. (Hebrews 12:5-7. James 1:2-4.)
But UNBELIEF and BITTERNESS can rob us of the joy and peace that belongs to those who truly trust God. (Hebrews 3:15-19. Psalm 37:3-7.)
Rhoda had a joy that those others in the home of Mary were missing out on. “When they opened the door, and saw (Peter) they were astonished.” He explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Then he left and went somewhere else.” (verse 17.) What joy there was in the home of Mary as they rejoiced in the wonderful way God had answered their prayers, and had turned their sorrow into joy.
Your first experience of this joy is when you trust Jesus the Son of God to be your only Priest. Your life is turned “from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God” through your faith in Jesus Christ as your Saviour. (Acts 26:18.) This is the joy of Salvation. (Romans 15:13.)
Read Acts chapter 12, verses 12-17.
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