Good Times - Hard Times

April 28

(Acts 9:31 NIV) “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.”

(Matthew 13:19-23 NIV) “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. {20} The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. {21} But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. {22} The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. {23} But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

(Hebrews 10:32-39 NIV) ““Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. {33} Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. {34} You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. {35} So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. {36} You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. {37} For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. {38} But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." {39} But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.””

Saul was converted and started preaching. His life was threatened and he fled. And the church grew stronger. Church growth does not always happen just during good times. Hard times can grow us as much as the good times. Life is seldom all good, or all bad. It is mixed together like a stew. We’ve been led to believe by our ancient foe that hard times mean we are losing. That’s not true. If we fold up and bail out every time things get tough, we will never win. Winning armies, winning teams, and winning churches, will endure losses on their pathway to victory. Good times and hard times come together in a package. Persecution is the norm for the faithful church, but so is winning souls in the midst of adversity. Anyone who lives as Christ’s disciple will suffer losses. Get over it, and get on with it. We are on our way to winning. The early church thrived in times of great testing -- so can we! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day