Sharing the good report of what God has done encourages people and gives glory to God. King Herod Agrippa had imprisoned Peter and planned on killing him until God sent an angel to free him. Peter was in a mental fog as he followed the angel out of the prison. When they reached the street, and the angel left, Peter realized this was real. So, Peter went to the house of Mary, mother of John Mark. There, believers were gathered to pray for Peter’s release.
As Peter knocked at the door, Rhoda answered it and quickly told the others Peter was released. Excited, she left Peter at the door but promptly returned to let him in. The praying people could not believe the good report. Acts 12:15 “You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.” [1] They met the good report with unbelief, but those praying soon would see Peter for themselves. Sometimes, we must depend on God’s discernment before seeing it with our own eyes.
Tell the Disciples the Good Report
Rhoda told the prayer group that Peter was at the door, and now they saw him with their own eyes and were amazed. Acts 12:17 He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place. [2]
As the report reached the disciples, there must have been great joy because of God’s fantastic deliverance of Peter. Just before Peter’s imprisonment, King Herod Agrippa had killed their fellow disciple, James, so Peter’s release must have lifted their spirits. We don’t know why Peter was freed, and James died, but that does not detract from the good report of God’s intervention.
Good Reports Shape Our Future
When the spies returned from the promised land, ten out of twelve spies gave a bad report, relying on themselves and not God to conquer the promised land. This bad report could not overcome the good report of Caleb and Joshua. The consequences of a bad report resulted in the Israelites not believing God’s promises, which resulted in them wandering forty years in the wilderness.
Our words are powerful, and so is trusting God as we walk by faith. When life seems to be turning upside down, the Bible gives us a good report. Yes, there is a battle between good and evil, but in the end, God wins. Life can be a trial, but God is always with us, and the Holy Spirit dwells in us. God loves us so much that He died for our sins so we could receive forgiveness and have eternal life. One day, as believers, we will step onto the shores of heaven and live forever in God’s house. To think about such things is to be encouraged by the good report no matter our circumstances.
To learn about sharing the good report, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/an-angel-rescues-peter
[1-2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.