Opposing Fear
How committed are you to your faith?
And Saul approved of their killing him. That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city. - Acts 8:1-8
As Saul was going from house to house committing believers to prison, the disciples were going from place to place curing the sick and paralyzed.
What does that tell us about our faith?
I believe the message is all about staying committed, regardless of what is happening around us.
There were many, I'm sure, who saw what Saul was doing and hid, not wanting to be found out, not wanting to be taken. But Phillip and the other disciples chose a different tact. They countered the persecution with acts of devotion.
This is what we are called to do as Christians.
It isn't that we ignore the persecution, but we do not succumb to the fear of it. We continue to do the good works God has for us to do, and in doing them, reach many who would be lost.
When we choose fear, we can't help but focus on the persecution and destruction that is all around us, but when we choose faith, we see beauty and hope.
How we see the world is our choice. We can cry about the injustice and cruelty, or we can devote ourselves to making a difference.
I choose the latter.
Evil exists, but love is stronger. That may sound like a cliche, but if it helps just one person stand up to persecution, then it becomes proof that God is with us always, in the bad as well as the good.
We have to keep believing.
More to come...