Locked Out - Devotions for 1-17-24

Acts 12:16 “But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.”

            The story in Acts 12 of Peter being put in prison, but then let out by an angel of the Lord is a fun story. Peter had been caught by the Jewish leaders and put in prison after James had been killed for his faith. The bible says that Herod saw that killing James pleased the Jews. As a result, Herod tried to do the same thing to Peter. Peter was arrested and the next day he was to be killed, but God had other plans.

            An angel comes to Peter in the night, his chains fall off, the jail doors open up and Peter is led out of the jail. He thinks he is in a dream. When he comes to and realizes it is not a dream Peter is outside the jail walking the streets of Jerusalem. Peter gathers his wits and goes to the home of a believer named Mary, the mother of John Mark. John Mark was the man would go on to write the Gospel of Mark. Peter went to his house because he knew that the believers would often gather there for prayer.

            When Peter gets to the outer gate, he finds it is locked. Peter is locked out.

            I went to the church building earlier this week and I was locked out. It was freezing outside, and the door would not open up. I tried every door, but I was locked out! I wanted in, just as Peter wanted in because he knew if he was found by the authorities he would be arrested and taken back to jail again.

            I had the ability to call the locksmith and after a couple of hours I was able to get in the church. Peter had to be let in from someone inside, he had to knock. So he knocked and a young girl named Rhoda came to the door. She saw that it was Peter and immediately ran back in to tell everyone. But she forgot to let Peter in!

            Why didn’t she open the door to the gate? Why didn’t she let Peter in? I’m sure Peter wondered. I think he was a bit scared too that by staying outside some guard or soldier would see him. But he waited and kept knocking and eventually someone came and let him in. They opened the door and invited him in. Peter was no longer locked out. And when Peter came into the house, there was great rejoicing as everyone thought he was going to be killed like James had been. Instead, God answered their prayers and Peter was saved.

            Jesus opened the door for us. He opens the door to us for our salvation and He opens the door for us to heaven. Jesus is the key that opens the door for our sins to be forgiven and us to live in heaven after we die. Jesus is our door opener and the One who invites us in.

            Our sin is what locks us out. Not some mechanical failure of a metal lock, but our sin. However, Jesus died on the cross to forgive our sins. Jesus invites us to receive the forgiveness of our sins by believing in Him, by having faith in Him. When we come to Jesus in faith, He forgives our sins and then there is nothing locking us out. He opens the door wide and invites us in.

Come to Jesus in faith and knock on His door and He will forgive your sins. Jesus never forgets to open the door to anyone who knocks. Call on Jesus today, knock and He will open the door and let you in.

Pastor Gary.