READING: Judges 17-18, Psalm 21, Acts 1
The Gospel of Luke 24 ends with Jesus’ words to His disciples about the Great Commission, and Acts 1 (the second volume of Luke’s writings) picks up that same theme:
- “And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.” (Luke 24:49)
- “While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise.” (Acts 1:4)
Clearly, Jesus did not want His disciples to take a step in fulfilling their ministries and callings without first having God’s power through His Spirit. Why did this matter so much? Jesus knew that the disciples on their own could never change lives. They could not convict hearts. They could not live in victory over temptation. They could not defeat the devil. They certainly could not persevere in faith all the way to death on their own. Nothing in themselves would attract the world to Jesus.
But, God’s plan was so much greater than what you and I could imagine. Jesus had promised that God would send the Comforter who would lead the disciples into all truth. The Spirit would empower them, and in that power these unknown, unspectacular disciples would take the gospel to the ends of the earth. We are wise today to remember this miracle: through His Spirit, God lives in us. We need not take a step without leaning on Him.
PRAYER: “Thank You, God, for sending Your Spirit to us. “
TOMORROW’S READING: Judges 19-21, Acts 2