Dying and living

Acts 12:1-5 NLT

About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. [2] He had the apostle James (John's brother) killed with a sword. [3] When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.) [4] Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. [5] But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

Peter James and John were Jesus' closest followers in His earthly ministry.

Read the Gospels and it can be observed that they had special intimate access to Jesus.

Why then was James cruelly executed and Peter miraculously rescued from jail?

Was Peter more important than James?

Did James have no angels watching over him whilst in Herod's custody?

Hmmm... The same questions arise today when fellow Christians are subject to persecution and are killed and some are spared.

People ask the same question about why Charlie Kirk wasn't spared.

The great "question marks" of our faith are what we all must wrestle with for better or worse.

It's natural to want to figure everything out and have answers to each and every question, but that isn't the way of faith and trust in Jesus.

Sometimes we need to hold our hands up and admit "strange are the ways of the Lord."

Compare the lives of 2 sisters in Ravensbruck concentration camp - Betsy Ten Boom died there and Corrie was miraculously released.

What should we make of that?

Romans 14:8-9 NLT

If we live, it's to honour the Lord. And if we die, it's to honour the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. [9] Christ died and rose again for this very purpose-to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

Psalm 116:15 NKJV

Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints.

So whether we live or die, suffer persecution or are saved, our lives are hid with Christ in God.

The big question marks we face should drive us deeper into God's Word and belief in His Sovereign love.

Job 42:2-3 NKJV

"I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. [3] You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.