It’s good for the kingdom
Therefore, those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Acts 8:4
Have you ever taken a step you believed God was leading you to, like praying for someone, sending a word of encouragement, or showing kindness, only to walk away wondering if it made any difference at all? Maybe you felt prompted by the Holy Spirit, followed through in obedience, and yet nothing seemed to change. In fact, the reaction might have even been lukewarm or disappointing.
Today’s scripture gives us a powerful reminder that impact often comes in ways we don’t immediately see. Acts 8 describes a time of intense persecution for the early church. Saul (later Paul) was dragging believers from their homes and throwing them in prison. From a human perspective, it looked like defeat. Christians were being forced to flee for safety. It surely didn’t feel like a victorious moment.
But while chaos and suffering appeared to be winning, God was orchestrating something greater. As the believers scattered, they carried the message of Jesus with them. They didn’t stay silent. They shared the gospel wherever they went, and as a result, the good news spread farther and faster than it ever could have if they had stayed in one place. What looked like loss was actually kingdom expansion. What seemed like defeat became divine strategy.
This is a reminder that your obedience matters, even when the results aren’t visible right away. Whether you share a verse, pray with someone, serve quietly, or offer encouragement, your obedience is a seed planted in the soil of someone’s heart. You may not see immediate fruit, but God sees it all. Just like a seed after it is planted is growing while it is hidden in the ground, the Spirit is working beneath the surface.
Here are some ways you can put this principle into action:
- Take consistent steps of faith. Don’t wait for perfect conditions to obey God’s leading. If you feel prompted to act, do it.
- Keep a journal. Write down moments when you sense God prompting you. Even if you don’t see the result, reflect on what you learned through the experience.
- Pray for hidden impact. Ask God to multiply your obedience and reach people in ways beyond what you can imagine.
- Stay encouraged by Scripture. Read passages like Acts 8 to remind yourself that God often works through trials and transitions.
You may never fully know the impact of your obedience this side of heaven, but rest assured, it matters. God’s Kingdom is never stagnant. He is always moving, always working, and always using the small acts of His people to advance eternal purposes.
Today I want to encourage you to keep walking out God’s plan for your life. Don’t be concerned with seeing immediate result. If you do, then great but ideally you want to see the long-term results so that your obedience to His prompt lives on long after you are gone from that day. Believe that God is doing a good work through your acts of kindness and love for others and even when you just wanted to be a nice person, He will make those seeds grow up to a full harvest.
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 8:1-8
1 Now Saul was consenting to his death.
At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
Journal:
- What is one step of obedience I took recently that felt small or unseen?
- How might God be using that moment for something bigger than I can see right now?
The Daily Dose 