Here and Now

COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease.   We see the number of positive tests rising every day, along with, sadly, the number of deaths.   The world is full of sick people, dying people.   They need our prayers.   Those who are at risk of catching the disease, which, let’s face it, is everybody, need our prayers.   This disease is changing the world. And not only that, but… Fear is highly contagious.   We see people all around us, every day, being paralyzed by fear.   We see them acting in ways they wouldn’t normally act and saying things they wouldn’t normally say.   The world is full of scared, helpless-feeling people.   They need our prayers.   Those who have no reason not to fear, they need our prayers.   Fear is changing the world. BUT… Faith is highly contagious.   When we see people around us at peace because of their faith, we are set at ease.   When people see us at peace because of our faith, they are set at ease.   When people see that even in trials like

In the eighth chapter of the book of Acts, we read of the persecution of the early church by Saul of Tarsus. After the martyrdom of Stephen we read: 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. (Acts 8:1 ESV) These early followers of Christ suddenly found themselves at great risk; their lives in danger. So they were forced to change their way of life, leaving their homes - everything was suddenly different! It was an inconvenience. No, something more... It was a trial. No, something more than that... It was an opportunity. God's people were forced out of their comfort zone and had to deal with new situations. And the Word of God spread like wildfire. Like He promised it would. It spread from Jerusalem to all Judea, and then to Samaria. And then, it spread to the whole world. Why? Because Christians were forced to change their situati