Acts 12:20-25

Acts 12:20-25
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Everyone loves a happy ending?  The Bible is not short on examples of what happens to those who oppose God's will.  Some of these characters meet ends that make me wince and wonder if a few of these details could have been left out, but then I remember that this was written in a very different time and place, when the church was violently opposed and the death of the oppressors was a great encouragement to the church members.  They saw God making roads for the church to grow through the deaths of their enemies.
  Now, I certainly wouldn't recommend that we start praying for those who oppose Christianity to be eaten by worms, (I'm pretty sure the Bible tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us), but we should look for ways that God is at work making it possible for the church to expand and reach more people, and we should celebrate when obstacles are removed and the church can spread in places where it once was outlawed or oppressed.  The Word of God is mighty and will not be denied, but many seek to silence its voice.  In these times, there are faithful disciples working to smuggle Bibles (that image always excites me) and spread the radical Word of God no matter what, so let us pray for their continued success and that all will come to bow the knee before the throne of glory!