In Acts chapter 1, Jesus gave a commission to the church prior to His ascension. This commission was to be witnesses “both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” The church in Jerusalem did well reaching their city with the Gospel. Acts 6:7 says “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” In this time of history, the church in Jerusalem had unbelievable growth; however, that was just one city.
This unprecedented church growth was shortly followed by dreadful church persecution. This was such a horrible, evil attack on the church. What good could come from such an awful event? We must not forget the well-known verse in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
The Bible details for us what came about from this seemingly bad situation. Acts 8:1, 4 “… And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. (4) Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Although this time seemed so bad, God turned it into good. This persecution scattered the Christians to preach the Word in the other cities that Christ commanded back in Acts 1:8.
As Christians in 2022, we need to remember this principle from Romans 8:28. Think about the war in Ukraine. Think also about the Covid pandemic. What good can come from all this evil? Only God can turn bad into good. He has a purpose and reason for these situations. God might be using these current events in the same manner as the first century Christians…to reach the world with the Gospel. God may be scattering Christians again to reach people with God’s Word. The lost may be crying out to find hope in this world. We know this hope is in Jesus. God may use war, famine, or pestilence in order to spread the message of salvation to the world. Let us be available and ready always to be witnesses for Jesus.
(By Matt Shold)
