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Go ahead and look first at Acts 11 . See how God speaks to you individually. Then come back, if you wish, and see what God has put in my mind/heart.

Key Verse(s): Acts 11:21-23

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

Title: Their Finest Hour

Observation: I always loved history. When I was a child I would take my history book home and read the years worth of study in a week or two. I remember reading an excerpt from Winston Churchill’s speech as a fairly young adolescent and being greatly puzzled by his phrase that if the British Empire should continue a thousand more years, that this would be remembered as their finest hour. At the time England was hopelessly outclassed by the power of Nazi Germany, without allies and without much hope of survival, not even success. Things looked incredibly bleak.

I later read about the Diamond Jubilee. This worldwide event celebrated Queen Victoria’s sixtieth year of reigning over the British Empire. At the time England was unquestionably the world’s greatest empire, in terms of land held, the greatest empire that ever existed. Naval ships came from all over the world to celebrate this the greatest of monarchs in the greatest reign of any sovereign. Surely, Churchill should have known that this was the British Empire’s finest hour.

But of course Churchill was right. It is our character, our perseverance in turmoil, that tests the fabric of our being. These Christians had been scattered by persecution. It could easily have caused them to turn their back on their faith. Instead as refugees in the world, they carried the gospel with them, reached beyond their culture to an alien culture, to bring the good news about Jesus, for whom they were suffering. They could not promise these new converts anything better that what they had received. And yet they were both unwavering and effective in sharing the good news. This was their finest hour.

Application: I need to be faithful in good times and bad times. And know that Jesus is glorified when I serve Him even in the most difficult of circumstances.

Prayer: Lord God, help me to see that circumstances are not the determiner of my effectiveness for you. Help me to bear fruit, both in and out of season. Allow me to become fully devoted to you.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.