God Goes In

In Acts 5, the apostles are put in jail by the leading priests and Pharisees for preaching the Gospel - the good news of Jesus Christ, who the leading priests and Pharisees thought they had killed and finally put to rest. 

Also in Acts 5, by a mighty act of God, the apostles are freed from the jail in the middle of the night and found preaching again the next morning by those who were coming to persecute them. The apostles just sort of shrug and say, "We have to preach Christ. What else would we do?" 

And for many of us, this is a story about the bravery of the apostles in the face of persecution, an example for all Christians everywhere to choose the path God has called them to regardless of what the world says or what obstacles might be in their way, regardless of the personal cost. 

But as I read this story again recently, what jumped out to me was not the apostles; it was the angel of the Lord. 

How many folks do you know that will break into jail? 

That's the crux of the story. It's not the apostles' bravery or resolve or whatever; it's the fact that here is God, yet again, sending His messenger into the hard places, right into the heart of the imprisonment. It is God who shows up and opens those cells. It is God who sets the prisoners free. 

The same God who goes into the fiery furnace to walk around with three faithful men from Israel. He didn't even rescue them; He never opened the door or pulled them out or anything. He just walked around with them. 

The same God who parts raging seas to let His people cross on solid ground. He's the One who steps into the waters. 

The same God who takes our nails in His hands and hangs our shame on His cross. 

Yeah, the apostles are cool, but I have a God who breaks into jail for me, into all the places where I'm captive. If there ever were a damsel in distress moment in my life, if I had even a little bit of damsel in me, my God is a God who comes to rescue me, wherever I'm at. 

In the top of the tallest tower. Behind the dragon's keep. Across the moat. From east to west. In the fiery furnace. In prison. Wherever. God is breaking in to get to me. 

And that's a really cool part of this story that we don't give enough credit for.