Waypoints: James, Peter, and Herod

People love to talk about the Super Bowl commercials. Some people love the creativity or the innovation or others the humor. Companies spend enormous amounts of money to pitch their products, their name and their brand to the audience from around the world. Even though Super Bowl LI could arguably be lauded as the greatest Super Bowl game ever with the amazing overtime finish, there are probably three groups of what matters most regarding the “Super Bowl Event” – 1] the actual game, 2] the half-time show or 3] the commercials.
 
Personally, I was all about a good game, no matter who wins since the Vikings weren’t playing. I won’t comment on the half-time show but I will fill you in on my favorite commercial of the night. It was played right at the beginning of the game and it was pitching Ford Motor Company. Do you remember it?
 
It had a pleasant soulful song proclaiming “I wish I knew how good it would feel to be free. I wish I could break all the chains holding me.” The images were one example after another of various ways people feel “imprisoned or trapped” such as being locked out of the house, stranded on a chair lift all alone on a cold mountain, stuck in a traffic jam or a little boy on a tipped over “Big Wheel Tricycle” with his helmet stuck under the handle bars calling out for help. I found myself emotionally relating to these situations of wanting to be free.
 
Can you relate to this at all?
Have you ever been trapped?
Have you ever wanted out of a situation you created or maybe a situation life forced on you?
 
This can happen in all kinds of ways in our lives. Some of those feelings come in small ways like being locked up in a wrestling hold or being stranded in the middle of a cold lake because the outboard motor isn’t working. Or it can happen in big ways such as literally being in a prison, or in an abusive family or wondering if there is any reason to go on living. This can be very difficult and tragic for so many people.
 
The commercial paints this picture of lacking freedom and then the song changes its tone and the people are set free from their various levels of need. The singer’s voice soars as she proclaims “I wish I could be like a bird in the sky… I sing cause I know how it feels to be free!” What a great message and I found myself rejoicing in being free.
 
Our text for this upcoming Sunday has Peter imprisoned by King Herod. His situation is hopeless or so it seems. That would be true except for one thing – GOD! The plans of God will not be thwarted. God “breaks chains” and Peter is set free.
 

• Acts 12.6-7 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.
  

 
God is faithful. Whatever it is that is imprisoning your soul from being set free has no power over God. I cannot promise that all your difficulties will go away but I can promise that the biggest prison of all cannot hold you. Jesus Christ will always set people free from the power of sin, death and an empty life if we will just call on His name. Jesus is great, powerful and good. He wants you to know that and be free for all of eternity!
 
In Christ,
Pastor Nick