DAILY TEXT, Today's Saturday April 23, 2022, There was peace in the region. There were no wars against him (2 Chron. 14:6).

DAILY TEXT, Today's Saturday April 23, 2022

Let's Examine the Scriptures Every Day 2022

Saturday April 23, 2022 

There was peace in the region. There were no wars against him (2 Chron. 14:6).

In the days of King Asa, the peace enjoyed by the nation of Judah came to an end, as an Ethiopian army of a million soldiers came to attack it. Their commander, Zérah, was convinced that they would defeat Judah. But Asa trusted Jehovah. So he pleaded with her: “Help us, Jehovah our God, for we trust in you, and it is in your name that we came to meet this multitude” (2 Chron. 14:11). Although the Ethiopian army had nearly twice as many soldiers as Judah's army, Asa knew that Jehovah had the power to help his people. And Jehovah did not disappoint him. The Ethiopian army suffered a humiliating defeat (2 Chron. 14:8-13). While we don't know exactly what awaits every servant of God, what we do know is that the peace we may enjoy now will eventually end. Remember that Jesus predicted that in the last days “all nations” would hate his disciples (Matt. 24:9). w20.09 17, 18 paras. 14-16

How did first-century Christians take advantage of a period of peace?

Although first-century Christians suffered persecution on many occasions, they also had some periods of peace. How did they take advantage of them? Those faithful men and women threw themselves into preaching the good news. The Acts account says that the Christian congregation “walked in the fear of Jehovah” and, because they did not stop preaching, “kept on growing.” It is clear that Jehovah blessed the enthusiasm with which they preached in times of peace.​—Acts 9:26-31.

Explain how Paul and other Christians took advantage of the opportunities that were presented to them.

The first-century disciples seized every opportunity to announce the good news. For example, the apostle Paul decided to stay in Ephesus when he saw “a great door” open for him to preach and make disciples in that city (1 Cor. 16:8, 9).

Paul and other Christians saw another opportunity to preach in AD 49, when the circumcision issue was settled (Acts 15:23-29). When the decision was communicated to the congregations, the disciples did their best to preach “the good news of the word of the Lord” (Acts 15:30-35). Which it was the result? The Bible says that “the congregations continued to become firm in the faith and to grow day after day” (Acts 16:4, 5).

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