Day 19 ~ Acts 5-9 ~ Part 2

Throughout the reading for today we see that the early church faced both internal and external problems that could have been extremely devastating to the growth and success of the church. In the first post for today we looked at one of those internal issues that arose with Ananias and Sapphira. Now I want to look at the external issue that the church could not control. In Chapter eight we find that “a great persecution broke out against the church.” The Body of Christ is no stranger to persecution. From the time of Christ to the present day the enemies of Christ have done their best to scatter and persecute the church. Our response to such persecution is what has made the difference throughout the years. While the church in Acts 8 “scattered throughout Judea and Samaria” notice what they did. The text says” Acts 8:4 (ESV) “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.” Hardship, pain, struggle, persecution, famine, or any other external condition does not excuse us from accomplishing our mission. In Mark 16:15, and Matthew 28:19-20 among other places we are told to GO and make disciples. May we be like the early church and preach the word wherever we go, despite the external conditions that surround us.

Pastor Pete