Day 4: Growing in a Season of Peace
Bible passage: Acts 9:26–31
A Church That Could Breathe Again
Today is Tuesday 4th of January 2022. Welcome to Day 4 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Today we look at a turning point in the life of the early church.
Ever since Stephen was killed, believers had been hunted, arrested and scattered. The man leading that attack was Saul. Then Saul met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, and everything changed.
From Enemy to Brother
An Unlikely Welcome
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, the believers were afraid of him, and you can understand why. It took Barnabas to stand beside him and tell his story. Soon Saul was preaching boldly in the name of Jesus, until a plot against his life meant he had to be sent home to Tarsus.
A Season of Peace
Then Luke gives us a summary. The church across Judea, Galilee and Samaria had peace. It became stronger. The believers lived in reverence for the Lord, were encouraged by the Holy Spirit, and grew in number (Acts 9:31).
That is a picture of shalom in a church: safe, strong, reverent, encouraged and growing.
Do not miss what made this possible. One man was willing to believe that Jesus really can change a person. Barnabas risked his own reputation to bring a former enemy into the family. Peace in a church is often built by people like that: people who make room for others and expect God’s grace to work.
What Will You Do with This Season?
Peace Is Not for Coasting
The early church did not treat peace as a holiday. They used it to grow deeper and to reach further. Hard seasons test our faith, but easy seasons test it too. It is possible to pray hard in a storm and drift when the sun comes out.
Luke’s description is a good health check for any believer. Am I at peace? Am I getting stronger? Do I live with reverence for God? Am I being encouraged by the Holy Spirit? Is my life bearing fruit in others?
Whatever Season You Are In
If life is hard, draw on His strength. “The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.” Psalm 29:11 (NLT)
If life is calm, build. Deepen your prayer life, serve, invest in someone else and strengthen the foundations while you can.
In every season, come to Jesus. He invites the weary to come to Him and promises rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28–29).
Take a moment to think about our church as well. What season are we in together? Ask the Holy Spirit to make us strong, reverent, encouraged and fruitful this year.
Jesus has left us His own peace as a gift (John 14:27). It is not tied to the season. It is tied to Him.
Prayer for Today:
Lord of every season, thank You for Your faithfulness in the hard times and the easy ones. Strengthen me where I am weary and stir me where I have become comfortable. I pray for our church: make us strong in faith, full of reverence, encouraged by Your Spirit and growing in number. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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