Now on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Some devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was trying to destroy the church; entering one house after another, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Now those who had been forced to scatter went around proclaiming the good news of the word. Philip went down to the main city of Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the miraculous signs he was performing. For unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, were coming out of many who were possessed, and many paralyzed and lame people were healed. So there was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:1b-8 NET)
Stephen was just stoned to death and Saul (Paul) approves of this and is going around collecting more followers of the way to bring to justice…
And the devout were scattered…
Do you feel like you have been scattered? For the past 2.5 months I have been without call, searching, wondering and wandering…
I have questioned why I am in this place at this time. I have questioned why this has happened to me, and why did I do this to my family? I wonder when this will be over and if ministry is actually what I am to be doing…
Now do not be concerned, the day I do not question God’s call on my life into ordained ministry is the day I will look for another vocation. God has called me, and that is really the point. In Acts those following the teaching of the apostles just saw one of those selected to serve them killed by those who were persecuting the church, the followers of the way. They are like the disciples who left Jesus on the cross they were scattered, because they were worried about being persecuted. But in Acts these people go out spreading the word about Jesus, they do not go and hide in a locked room. They are all out doing what they need to do.
I pray that God will lead me where He needs me, as I do the same for you. If you feel like you have been scattered, and do not belong, or you are running from persecution, or life that is getting you down, remember that the scattered in Acts still spread the news of Jesus and that is what you can do, because He gives you the strength to do that.
aSacredRebel 