March 18, 2010 - Acts 12:23

“Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.” Acts 12:23.
This gruesome event served as a marker of the transition that occurred in the life of the community of followers of Jesus. Before Herod’s death, the early church had experienced a harsh persecution, with deaths and imprisonments, at the hands of the Jewish authorities, as well as the Roman rulers. And the small community of believers was scattered throughout “all Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). In this transition, they began a period of relative peace and experienced numerical growth, as they expanded throughout the Roman world. They had remained faithful through the harsh, tough period, and, even though the persecutions were not over, were now entering into a period of refreshment and growth.
Likewise, each of us goes through different periods in our life. And there are usually markers that aid us in remembering the transition points. One such marker for me was the restlessness that I felt around the time I transitioned from owning my own business to going into ministry as a vocation. I struggled for a period of time, questioning my direction and wrestling with God, until finally realizing that the ministry direction was where God desired for me to proceed. Once the decision was made, I moved from experiencing restlessness, worry, and anxiety to peace and joy. In my life, markers have served to help me see God’s faithfulness and care, and, it’s in looking back that I see His hand at work.
Questions to consider: Have there been any markers in your life? What are they, and what purpose do they serve in your life?
Prayer: Father, thank You for the markers in my life and the transitions that You give me in my journey. Help me to be attentive and aware of these movements and help me to embrace them as being from Your hand. Amen.