Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ²  Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.

 ³  But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. 

 ⁵  Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.

 ⁶  The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.

 ⁷  For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

 ⁸  So there was much rejoicing in that city.”  Acts 8:1-8. 

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Although the church was greatly persecuted, and they were all scattered, they went about preaching the word.  

We may not be persecuted to the extent that the church was in today’s Scripture, but we may be or feel scattered by events in our life.  We may feel pressures from work, and even family and friends.  However, we too can go about preaching and teaching God’s word and doing other acts of goodness.

We can sow God’s word and doing other acts of goodness so bountifully that it seems as if we are scattering.  Proverbs 11:23-25 speaks about such generosity of the righteous. 

“²³  The desire of the righteous is only good,
         But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
    ²⁴  There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
         And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.
    ²⁵  The generous man will be prosperous,
         And he who waters will himself be watered.”  Proverbs 11:23-25.

^“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;  as it is written,
         “HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR,
         HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.”                                                                                                                             Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;  you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-11. 

In conclusion, the righteous eagerly use whatever scattered opportunities they have to scatter (sow bountifully) God’s word and other acts of goodness.  The righteous don’t run “willy-nilly” without purpose, but they recognize that God is in control and that God wants them to use the circumstances in which they are to do good.  Like the Good Samaritan, they stop to do good even though it may not be on their agenda.