God’s Purposes through Suffering

Job 3-4; Acts 8-9 

“On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria…Saul began to destroy the church…Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went…‘Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?...I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting…’”

Acts 8:1, 3, 4; 9:4, 5

The Holy Spirit-birthed celebration of the birth of the Church in Jerusalem shifted with the great persecution. Believers in Jesus were forced to flee for their lives; but with them, they brought the gospel of Jesus Christ. God uses persecution to scatter his people and advance his mission purposes to make disciples of all nations. There are few experiences that bring us deeper into identifying with Christ’s sufferings than persecution. As Christ’s Body, the Church is Christ’s representative on earth. When we suffer, Jesus feels the pain. Our persecution is Christ’s persecution. The suffering Church today is bearing witness through their identification with Jesus that they belong to him. As we identify with Christ in his sufferings, the gospel is somehow authenticated before a skeptical world. Suffering for Christ because of his gospel is sometimes our strongest witness to the reality of God’s transforming power and presence in our lives.

“Lord Jesus, may I be faithful to you in suffering, and content in plenty or in want, for your glory and kingdom mission.”