I don’t know about you, but I am a political junkie. I keep up with events going on in our country, state and globally. It is so easy to be discouraged when you look around and see the corruption and the debasing of morals in our society. This morning I read the following devotional in Mornings With Jesus 2017 that reminds me where our true hope lies: in the Lord alone. “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jer. 32:27)

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I recently came across this verse about the early followers of Jesus: “But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.” (Acts 12:24) By itself, the statement doesn’t seem too remarkable. Disciples told others, the Holy Spirit stirred hearts, more and more came to know Jesus. Hooray!

What does strike me as noteworthy is everything that leads up to this verse. Those who followed Jesus were facing danger. Peter had been imprisoned, then freed by an angel. An evil king called himself a god. A few chapters earlier, the apostles were conflicted about which Jewish laws needed to be obeyed.

Persecution, hostility, corrupt leaders, even disagreement and confusion within the Body of Christ. Sound familiar?

There are days I wring my hands and moan about the difficulties in our time. What a joyful reminder to find this short verse.

In spite of a society that ignores or even mocks the love of Christ, the Word continues to increase and spread. In spite of leaders who fall or fail, the Word continues to increase and spread. In spite of uncomfortable disagreements with our sisters and brothers, the Word continues to increase and spread.

Our journey together in following Jesus will sometimes include glorious miracles (like Peter’s rescue). But even when it doesn’t, each day we can place ourselves willingly into the hands of Jesus. We can ask Him to show us how to join in His work of increasing and spreading the love of God. — Sharon Hinck