BURNED OUT: When you lose your fire for ministry Day #2

Stephen’s death marked a great persecution of the church. Acts 8:1 tells us that all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. The consequences of this could have been astronomical. The flock of believers were separated from their spiritual shepherds, the apostles. The people, however, were not deterred. The extreme persecution they were facing did not dry them up or keep them from their God-given purpose. Acts 8:4 just astounds me. In the midst of tragedy, at the loss of one of their own and the persecution of all the rest, we find that the scattered did not just keep believing, no they preached the Word wherever they went. As they faced the burning heat and pressure from the world they remained the dew that could refresh and renew the world. They gave others the gift of hearing about that sustaining water as well.

What if they hadn’t though? What if they let the heat of the world burn up their faith? They had every right to. They no longer had leadership or an example of how to react. If they had scattered and let the world burn them up as the high heat of the day burns off the dew the church would not exist and you and I would know nothing of Jesus Christ.

Devotional written by Lindsey.

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