How It All Turned Out

How It All Turned Out

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.”

Acts 2:14

We have considered over the past few days how Christ restored Peter after his denial. At one point of our meditations we thought on how Christ gave to Peter a work to do. The first twelve chapters of the book of Acts tell us how that all turned out. On the Day of Pentecost, it was Peter who stood up to preach and three thousand souls were saved. At the temple, it was Peter who healed the lame man. It was Peter who stood up to the religious leaders and said to them, ‘let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’  It was Peter who pronounced the sentence upon Ananias and Sapphira. Peter raised Dorcas from the dead. God used Peter to open the door of evangelism to the Gentiles. It was Peter whom the angel liberated from prison. The whole first major portion of the book of Acts shows us how Christ prospered the work He had given Peter to do. It is so for us. We have failed Christ often, and badly. Christ seeks us out where we are. He raises the issue that stands between us. He restores us fully. He gives us a work to do. He blesses that work for His Own Glory and for the advancement of His Kingdom. Eternity alone will reveal all that God has done with us and through us whom He has given us this work to do. It is utterly His work. He receives all the glory. We have the privilege of being the tools which He uses to accomplish this work. We cannot see how it will all turn out; but He does.  To Christ alone be the glory.

Our All-Seeing and All-Knowing God,
we praise You that You see the end from the beginning.
We rejoice that everything that should be will come to pass,
and that we will see Your Kingdom come.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning