“And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles….Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.” Acts 8:1,4
July 26, 2023
Jesus told a parable about scattering the seed of the Word of God (Matt. 13). It is a vivid picture of how the gospel message lands on the hearts of people. One way God scatters the gospel message is through persecution of the church. It has been said that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” The book of Acts gives different accounts of how this happens. In Nigeria today a pastor describes what is happening in northern Nigeria “when Boko Haram attacked. Villages were ransacked, churches burned, and men and women murdered.” He continues, “This persecution has become like fertilizer for the gospel. Our church had only 200 members before Boko Haram came, now we have 300 to 400 members.” Church history is replete with examples of the scattering effect of persecution. Pray for fellow believers in Nigeria. Terrorists groups like Boko Haram are used by Satan to destroy Christianity. But blessed are the risk-takers who refuse to deny Christ despite the dangers. Find Nigeria on a map. Lay it out before you and pray for an end to the violence inflicted by militant groups across Nigeria.
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“Blessed are the hidden and disguised, Who watch their words, Guard their footsteps, And fear for their lives.”