Things were getting crazy for the disciples now. They were imprisoned, threatened, and even killed because of the gospel they proclaimed. Before they had been transformed by the grace of God and the gospel of Jesus, they were just regular people living regular lives. Now things had gotten uncomfortable for them, but their comfort was not God’s primary concern.
On the day of Stephen’s murder, severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. People scattered, and the Gospel scattered along with them. The floodgates of evil had been opened, but God would use even the believer’s persecution for His glory.
Everyone took off in different directions, and one of them, Phillip, went to Samaria. This was not a place Jews typically went. It was “the bad part of town” and the Samaritans were the “bad people.” This was outside Phillip’s comfort zone, but that was exactly where he needed to be. God’s primary concern was not his comfort, it was the souls of the people in Samaria.
Like Phillip, we need to get out of our comfort zone.
It may be easy to talk about Jesus in our normal circles where we won’t face harsh opposition or uncomfortable conversations. But the people who need to hear about Jesus are not (usually) in our normal circles. The people who need to hear the good news of the gospel are out there. In the places we don’t usually go.
God used the death of Stephen and the persecution of the church to spread the gospel far and wide, and that was His plan all along. Jesus had told His disciples to go. To be His witnesses to people everywhere. In Jerusalem and Judea (their hometowns). In Samaria (the “bad neighborhoods”). And to the ends of the earth.
Today, we have the same mission. Comfort was not part of Jesus’ ministry, and it is not going to be part of ours. When we stay comfortable, people stay lost! God’s primary concern is not our comfort, it is the spreading of the gospel and the souls of the lost.
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing…Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” – Luke 15:4-7 ESV
