Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Leviticus 4-7
     New Testament Reading: Acts 12

When Herod was about to bring him out for trial, that very night Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison (Acts 12:6).

Early in His ministry to the disciples during the Sermon on the Mount Jesus stated, “Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). Jesus repeated that teaching multiple times during His earthly ministry with the disciples. As with most of us today, the disciples had difficulty mastering this principle. It’s hard to change bad habits. Worry and Anxiety can lead to many physical and emotional sicknesses and God does not want that for His children. He desires we live a life free from worry and anxiety.

The Apostle Peter eventually learned the lesson. In this passage, Peter was in prison bound with chains between two soldiers, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison cell. His close friend and colleague, the Apostle James, had just been martyred. Now that the Passover was over, Peter knew what was likely to come. He could have expected to be brought forward in the morning for some mock public trial and then be executed. But it never disturbed his rest. Peter was so sound asleep that the angel sent to rescue him had to strike him on the side to wake him up! Even then, Peter still thought he was sleeping and had to be told to put on his clothes and sandals.

Peter must have thought back to this night when he wrote, Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Peter was sleeping chained between two soldiers, and he knew the timetable. He knew the Passover was over. He knew what was liable to come. But it never disturbed his rest. He was like that old saint who was sleeping through a horrible storm in a boat, and somebody said, “Aren’t you concerned?” And he reminded them that the Psalmist said the Lord never sleeps and never slumbers and if that’s true of the Lord, there’s no sense in both of us staying awake.

Americans spend 41 billion dollars a year on sleeping aids. How much better we would all be if we only followed Jesus’ teaching and seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matt 6:33) instead of worrying and fretting about tomorrow.