If I had been among the early Chris tians forced to leave Jerusalem because of persecution (Acts 8:1), what would I have said to my new neighbors? Would I have reminisced about how much I missed my home church? Would I have complained about how hard it was on the kids to start over in a new place? Probably!

But there's no hint of complaint among those displaced believers-- only an enthusiastic witness to Christ the risen Lord. After being "scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria," they "went everywhere preaching the Word" (Acts 8:1,4).

What began in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost was not tied to geography, peace, or prosperity. It was the Spirit in them fulfilling Jesus' promise in Acts 1:8, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

When God allows difficult circumstances in our lives--a lost job, a demanding family need, a relocation to another city, state, or country--can we see His hand and sense His power? May we be like those early Christians, accepting the Lord's leading and joyfully proclaiming His Word wherever we are.  — David C. McCasland