A good church leader, Stephen has just been stoned to death. Persecution against the church started in Jerusalem. Christians had to leave their homes, scattered in foreign places (throughout Judea and Samaria), they were being jailed and punished for their beliefs. (Acts 8:1-3)
So what did they do? They went on preaching the good news of Jesus. More people in other places saw and experienced the miracles of healing and exorcism. A different kind of church – no beautiful structure, no band, no freedom to exercise their faith in their own hometown, no peace, no comfort… yet much joy! (Acts 8:8) Where they went, there was much joy in the city.
It makes me think of our comfortable, complacent churches today. We take for granted the freedom we enjoy – to worship without fear of being imprisoned, to gather together to study the Bible, to even own a Bible – and sometimes not just one but many. Life is so easy in our comfort zone.
It is ironical that churches in places of persecution thrive and grow.. not in material resources but in joy! It is a joy beyond understanding.. a joy of defiant nevertheless! Out of the persecution and hard places of life, there can be joy… a joy that stems from knowing the good news of Jesus. It is a joy that overflows from within to reach out to all the people around. It is contagious.
Suffering in life makes one strong. It is a choice to get up and stand up in the midst of pain and persecution.. to leave our comfort zone and turn adversity into an opportunity to bring good to others.
Today is another day to do good even in pain. Choosing joy is being able to see God’s goodness even when life is hard and messy.
