3RD WEEK OF EASTER

Those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

The early Christians in Jerusalem were under attack. Their opponents, including Saul, were entering their homes and throwing them into prison (Acts 8:3). So these believers fled the city and went elsewhere. But that didn’t stop them from proclaiming the good news. They could not be silenced.

What sustained these men and women and enabled them to continue preaching the word? Their hope in the risen Lord! They trusted that he would be with them and would care for them in those dangerous times. And even if they had to give up their lives for their faith, they knew that they had been redeemed by the blood that Jesus had shed on the cross. They could look forward to an eternity with the Lord in heaven.

Over the centuries, that hope in the risen Lord has continued to sustain God’s people as they preached the good news. Today believers in nearly every nation on earth continue to proclaim the gospel, no matter how dangerous the situation. Nothing, not even direct opposition or violence, can overcome their hope in Christ.

What about us? How can we sustain a vibrant hope in the Lord? By rooting ourselves in the word of God and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus each day. As we draw near to him in prayer, we will experience his goodness, his mercy, and his care for us. Then we will become more confident that he will remain faithful to his promises, whether we are living in peaceful or stormy times. And the hope that we have in Christ will overflow into our conversations with the people around us. We can witness to all the times the Lord has come through for us and all the times we have seen him working in the lives of other believers.

Do you know someone who has lost hope? The early Christians couldn’t be silenced even when they were being persecuted. Don’t be silent, either! Share with that person the hope that is in your heart, a hope that never runs dry because its source is Jesus himself!

“Jesus, help me to share the reason for my hope.”

Acts 8:1-8
Psalm 66:1-7
John 6:35-40