Session 12

Every escape starts with one step

From Acts: A 28-Day Devotional

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Peter is beaten and thrown into prison for talking about Jesus, but God sent an angel to break him out.

Chained to two soldiers and guarded by 14 others, Peter needed a rescuer. God sent an angel to free Peter from his chains, rescuing him from a hostile court and certain death. The angel escorted Peter past the guards, and Peter walked out of prison unscathed.

Peter’s escape was miraculous, but no more miraculous than God’s work in our church today. Every day, God offers people freedom. It comes through prayer with fellow believers (James 5:16), the accountability and support of a group (Galatians 6:1-2), and the daily practice of listening to Jesus and doing what He says (Philippians 2:12-13). 

God storms into prisons of loneliness, addiction, financial bondage, worthlessness, and rejection. He sets people free with love, fellowship, teaching, and purpose-filled living. Are you waiting for God to rescue you from your difficulties? Or are you willing, like Peter, to wake up, get up and follow God out of prison by taking your next step?

Reflect: 

• What does this passage teach us about God? How does it apply to you?
• When was the last time you needed God to show up big? What happened? What did you learn about God through that experience?
• Peter walked out of the prison unscathed, but it all started with his first step. What first step is God asking you to take today?