The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 12:6-11, “And on the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping
between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.
7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and
roused him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands.
8 And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap
your cloak around you and follow me.”
9 And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real,
but thought he was seeing a vision.
10 And when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which
opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street; and immediately the angel departed
from him.
11 And when Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and
rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Did you ever have a dream that was so real you believed it was actually happening? That’s exactly what Peter
experienced. Bound with two chains, positioned between two guards, and with other guards watching over the prison, it seemed impossible for anyone to escape. Yet, the best efforts of man are futile when challenged by the
power of Almighty God! Peter’s chains melted as if they were but wax, and he followed the angel, still thinking that it was a dream. Why, when we have once experienced the LORD’s power, do we doubt Him in anything? The angels of the LORD do His bidding; we people of the LORD should believe and obey.

Peter obeyed. The iron gate that guarded the city then opened without any human help and Peter was guided to the very street where his Christian friends were praying. We mortals sleep to escape the knowledge of danger; God fears nothing! He never sleeps! He is always awake to rescue us. Though at times He allows us to encounter danger, His rescue produces in us a future trust in His love and power.

What difficulties –what dangers—are you currently encountering? Their severity does not matter. The LORD is our strength and stay, just as the psalmist reminds us:

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake
at its swelling pride. (Ps. 46:1-3)

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom