… persecution was just the catalyst the church needed to take the rest of Jesus’ command seriously. Scatter into the entire world proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom.

It’s interesting that they never actually intended to do this. They seemed comfortable in Jerusalem and so long as they were comfortable they had no reason to go elsewhere. They never planned any mission trips to Samaria… they didn’t even send money to help the poor in starving towns around the world. Their fulfillment of the Great Commission came not by planning and sending, but by persecution, fear, and running away.

But in their running, they did not cease to be followers of Christ. Instead they took Christ wherever they went and so the good news began to spread into every tribe, tongue and nation. In Acts 8:4, Luke writes:

Those who had been scattered moved on, preaching the good news along the way.

The pandemic has caused much of the church to scatter once again. Some have gone online. Others have found creative ways to meet in small groups. Still others stood idly by waiting until we could return safely to Jerusalem (AKA - our sanctuaries).

Wherever we may be scattered, let us continue to take the Good News of Christ wherever we may go… to Judea, Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.