Good News is Great Joy

The Christian Community Comes Alive
Giving Bold Testimony

Trusting the Spirit

Acts 8:4-8  The Message

^3-8 And Saul just went wild, devastating the church, entering house after house after house, dragging men and women off to jail. Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus. Going down to a Samaritan city, Philip proclaimed the Message of the Messiah. When the people heard what he had to say and saw the miracles, the clear signs of God’s action, they hung on his every word. Many who could neither stand nor walk were healed that day. The evil spirits protested loudly as they were sent on their way. And what joy in the city!

For Reflection 

One:  "Guess what happened?  Saul is hunting Christians.  He is arresting and hauling them off to jail!  Mothers and fathers.  Their poor children left to fend for themselves"

Another: "Oh that's bad!"

One:  "Perhaps not all bad.  The Christians fled and wherever they went more people joined them.  The news of a savior is too compelling to be quelled.  Beside, Saul's persecution gave more reason to join the Christians."

Another:  "Odd though.  For Christians, nothing is either all good or all bad.  They seem to weather it all joyfully and spread the promise of hope, justice and peace."

God, indeed works in all things for Good!

Pray

pray that you will see the blessings found in troubling times.  Pray that your hope and expectation for joyful living  in spite of difficult circumstances will bless others.  Pray that you will cling to God's promise to make all things right.