5×5×5 Bible Plan
Read: Acts 8
Meditation: Acts 8:1
At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Shift Your Focus… 8:1 = 1:8. That is an uncomfortable Kingdom equation that has been played out over the last 2,000 years of church history. We may not like it, we may wish it weren’t so, but it is true; it just seems to be the way God has to work.
Let me explain what I mean by the 8:1 = 1:8 equation: The persecution and scattering of the church in Acts 8:1 couldn’t have been very much fun for the first century believers, but it is likely that it was the only way to fulfill Acts 1:8,
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Jesus never intended for his followers to stay in their comfortable Jerusalem nest; there was a “Judea, Samaria and the end of the earth” where he wanted his witness proclaimed. But things were going very well for the believers in Jerusalem. The church was thriving, growth was phenomenal and great favor was upon them in the city. This was a pretty good deal for first believers—why would they leave such a good thing?
But what we see as a good thing sometimes aren’t God’s thing. There was a world to be won. So God used this persecution to remove the feathers and get them out of the nest. Acts 8:4 adds,
“Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” That was God’s thing!
How many times has that story been repeated in your life? Has God ever used persecution, hardship, failure and sorrow to get you out of your comfort zone and onto a new and better calling? Some time ago, a friend shared with me about a mutual acquaintance who had been unexpectedly released from his job. After several months, a new and greater ministry opportunity had finally opened up for which he is much better suited than in his previous role. This man commented to my friend, “God is finally using this to my advantage.” My friend wisely replied, “No, God was using this all along to position you for this better place of service.”
The truth is, this man would have never left his former employment because he was so comfortable there. God allowed a little persecution to get him out of his comfortable nest and onto God’s greater purposes for his life. God had to use Acts 8:1 to get him going on Acts 1:8.
Perhaps there is some discomfort in your life right now. I would suggest that you begin to look at it from this perspective. It is highly likely that the hardship you are currently experiencing is in reality, a grace disguised.
“No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.” ~William Penn
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