Scattered on a Mission

Exodus 30-32; Acts 8 

“…On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samarian…Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”

Acts 8:1, 4

The thousands of families who formed the church at Jerusalem were Jewish, enjoying the teaching of the apostles, fellowship with each other, and the breaking of bread together. The great persecution following the stoning of Stephen scattered the church throughout Judea and Samaria, fulfilling Jesus’ promise that his disciples, once empowered by the Spirit, would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. It is often hard to leave the safety, familiarity, and comfort of Jerusalem to travel to the ends of the earth. When persecution scatters the church, the gospel becomes more valuable because it has now cost us everything. That which is valuable we freely share, rather than a cheap gospel that cost us nothing. The people of Samaria heard and received the gospel as they welcomed kosher Jewish disciples who had become refugees. God is still redeeming the scattering of the Church today for his kingdom-mission. The Church diaspora, are God’s missionaries to the West, calling us back to the Lord. 

“Lord Jesus, I am available for your mission, for your glory.”