Control in the Chaos
Many people who I know are facing chaos in their lives today. It seems that I’m receiving daily phone calls and e-mails about a different tragedy. Yesterday I received one such phone call, and I don’t know if it’s just that the pain of our sheep is beginning to be overwhelming or if the confusion that may often accompany these circumstances is becoming overwhelming….whatever it is, I felt overwhelmed.
In reading Acts 3:13-18(NIV) Peter is speaking to the people of Israel during his second sermon (remember the first one resulted in 3,000 receiving the word and being baptized). As Peter goes through the things the people of Israel were responsible for, “..Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned.”, “You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you.”, “You put to death the prince of life.”….I imagine the chaos.
Pilate stands ready to release either a murderer or Jesus in whom he has found no fault….and the crowd screams for Barabbas. It’s utter chaos, nothing makes sense. Nothing is right. Everything is wrong. The situation is completely out of control.
But then Peter says in verse 18, “But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.” I had a moment when I read this passage and it dawned on me what those closest to Jesus had endured during this time. They experienced the chaos of the crucifixion first hand. Their whole world had fallen apart. But now Peter says God was in control the whole time. He knew what he was doing all along. In the midst of complete chaos was providence.
If you are enduring trials that seem as they might overtake you I urge you to look to the cross. Just as God’s mighty hand was in complete control then He is sovereign in your life now.
Trust Believe Know
