“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”
I can remember times when something bad happened, and I just wanted to forget about it, not speak of it or have a conversation about it. Times when the past is better left behind, in other words. No matter how hard I try to put it away under lock and key in my head, I am reminded of those times from time to time. I have learned to give myself a break, learn from the past, and forgive those who harmed me. I cannot change the past, but I can surely learn from it and maybe, because of my shortcomings, help someone else.
We are supposed to learn our lesson when we are punished. Some of us take more than enough trips around the mountain until we finally get it. The abusive side of sin will always trick us into believing that sin is fun, even though we keep returning to it like a dog returning to its own vomit (Proverbs 26:11). Hopefully, we learn from our sinful misgivings and do not repeat them.
Sin is one thing, but persecution is another. Persecution is when someone displays hostility and ill treatment toward another person. After the stoning of Stephen, we see the church begin to face persecution. The Bible records a man named Saul who went from house to house, putting people in jail who believed in this man named Jesus and who He claimed to be. He was taking them back to Jerusalem, putting them in jail, and even killing some. Because of this, many of the believers were scattered and left Jerusalem to save their lives and their families.
I cannot say that I have ever been persecuted because of my faith in Jesus like that. I hear of people groups across the world who have been persecuted in this way. No matter where we seem to be scattered, physically or mentally, because of our faith in Jesus, we can take a page from chapter 8 and apply it to our lives.
Wherever they went, they preached the word. At work, on a bus, in a group of friends, or at home, we should be preaching the word, whether we have been scattered because of persecution or not. Mental isolation of our faith seems to be the place we often take our beliefs when we are persecuted.
Today, be bold enough to proclaim your faith and do not apologize for it. Start small. Your testimony is powerful because it is your story, and no one can say it is not. The Bible says that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). What has Christ done for you? Wherever you go, no matter if you are scattered or not, we ought to be compelled to preach the word. Your past is your past, and you do not have to let it imprison you. Christ has redeemed you from your past, so it is no longer filled with shame and regret. Rather, it becomes a story of how Christ has set you free. Start today by sharing that adventure you have been on. You never know how it might change the lives of the people around you.
Prayer: Father, give me the boldness to speak and proclaim Your saving grace wherever I go. I pray for confidence, strength, and a willingness to preach Your Word wherever I go. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let It Go 
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