On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Acts 8:b, 4 NIV
Everyone reading this today will be in different places, doing different things and encountering different people. You may have conversations with co-workers, clients, vendors, friends, family and at some point even complete strangers. Your encounters may be face to face, on the phone, via text or online, but there’s one thing we all have in common. We will all have opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel wherever we go!
Acts 8 gives us the impression that many believers in the early church ended up in places they had not anticipated, due to the persecution that broke out against the church, but wherever they found themselves, they preached the word! Will you do the same?
We know that the early church was scattered so that the Great Commission, given by Jesus would be carried out. God could have protected every believer in Jerusalem from the dangers of the persecution, but He wanted the Gospel message to spread. Let’s be mindful today that God may intentionally place us in conversations with those who have no idea who He is. We live in a lost generation and everyday we encounter people who have never been told that God loves them and has a plan for their lives. They may not even understand that there is God.
God, help us to make the most of every opportunity you give us today. May we be sensitive to your Holy Spirit as we go about our lives today, intentionally looking for chances to share your word with everyone we encounter!
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:2-6 NIV