“And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. (Acts 12:13-1613And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. 14And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. 15And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. 16But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. (Acts 12:13‑16).)
I like this sweet Rose of Palestine, for that’s what her name—Rhoda—means. She says to me: Anyone can be the friend of the Lord Jesus. It does not matter how young you are no, nor how poor and humble you are. I was only a girl. Yet He had a place for me, so simple and lowly and unpretending, in His home and heart. He despises none: He casts out none: He waits for you.
And she says to me: You can please Him in the common duties of everyday life. It was my work to answer the door; nothing more wonderful or loftier than that!
There was a prayer meeting going on in that home, and I am glad I was at that prayer meeting. I left off praying to go and answer the door. My answering the door was service to Him as truly as my praying was. So remember that you can honor Him in the smallest and most ordinary affairs of the quietest and humblest life.
And again she says to me: See that you have a trust in Him which nothing can shake. The brethren would not believe me when I told them that Peter was safe and well outside; but I constantly affirmed that it was even so. You do the same. If you cannot argue with people, tell them to go down to the door and see for themselves. One better than Peter is waiting to enter there. “Behold,” the Lord Jesus says, “I stand at the door and knock. If any man open the door, I will come in.”
Indeed, I thanked that dear maid, Rhoda, for her wholesome and uplifting lessons. Peter is like a mountain in the kingdom of the Bible, Rhoda is but a wild rose blooming by the roadside. But both mountain and flower have their message for me, and I can part with neither.
ML-06/04/1978