Scripture makes me laugh

Some times scripture just makes me laugh. I am certain God had some verses and stories put in the bible so that we would have a good laugh and know that not only does He have a sense of humor... we can too. ;o)

Yesterday's devotion was from Acts 12: 1-17. I keep mine at work and read it in the morning but D reads his at night. So when he was reading the passage I got a case of the giggles. I am a visual thinker so I was envisioning the scene in my head. It's a good thing my husband is ok with me being a complete dork...lol

1It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

6The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.

8Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. 9Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."

12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"

15"You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."

16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place. (NIV)

Can you just picture Rhoda going to the door and freaking out a bit? And Peter on the other side rolling his eyes while looking around furtively for soldiers that could be following him.

Then the people that were praying say "You're out of your mind"

How long do you think Peter stood there knocking while the other stood inside saying "I'm not going to open it... you open it. Nope I'm not doing it... you do it"

Then when they finally opened the door Peter told them this amazing story about an Angel releasing him...then walks away.

What I would like to know what they did after Peter left. Do you think they just sat around looking at each other wondering "What just happened?!" This was Peter, the one that walked on water, the Rock, the one that denied Christ 3 times... and then one of the first to the tomb after Christ died to look at the linens left behind. After the Resurrection when all the disciples went out fishing, Jesus appeared to them on the shore...Peter put on his cloak and jumped out of the boat. I don't know whether he thought he was going to walk on water again or of he was just over joyed to see Jesus... he was a man of action, and had a bit of emotion.... no wonder he left the people in the house to go somewhere else...lol

Seriously though, how often do we pray for something... I mean pray and wail and pray some more... go before the throne and say "PLEASE". And God's standing there on the other side of the door, saying I am right here, I have answered you all you have to do is open it and believe. It's not so hard....lol

So often I ask God for something, or ask Him for an answer and I get it... but then I am say "Are you sure? Did you really mean that? Or do you mean this?"

I pray today that we can see the humor in life, the joy that comes from knowing that we are loved beyond belief by a God that has a sense of humor Himself.