April 19th, 2020
Devotional
“You Shall Be My Witnesses”
Acts 1: 1-14
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Monday: “Theophilus” - Acts 1: 1-5
The Book of Acts is composed by the same author as the Gospel of Luke, starting another letter to Theophilus, lover of God. The general premise is that the gospel told chiefly of the works of Christ and his life, while the book of Acts speaks about the formation of the church, the body of Christ. But notice what the author starts this account of the church by telling – the ascension of Jesus.
The ascension is something that is hard for us to wrap our minds around. We sometimes talk about it in church, but it isn’t a vital part of the larger culture as it is in some other countries. One of my close friends from undergrad is a wiz at languages. Her skills have landed her several different internships in China and Germany, among other countries. She is currently working in Germany, and in one of her emails to me this week she explained that she had a long holiday because of the celebration of a holiday – The Feast of Ascension, which commemorates the forty-day after Easter – the day that Christ ascended into Heaven. My friend’s holiday caused me to start to ponder why the ascension was so important as to prompt such a celebration.
Why do you think the ascension is so important that Luke starts Acts off with it?
Prayer: God, we confess that sometimes we are tempted to gloss right over the ascension. We do not fully understand how it impacts our lives today. Speak to us throughout this week, O God, about your power and glory and call on our lives through this scripture passage.
Tuesday: “At this Time” - Acts 1: 6
The time after Easter seems to be one in scripture marked by the disciples paralysis. Their deep and understandable fear. Now that they have Jesus back, physically, in their lives they once again seemed to be paralyzed, not necessarily by fear but by adoration without action. The author states that for forty days after Christ’s resurrection he spoke to the disciples about God’s Kingdom and gave them detailed instructions to stay in Jerusalem until God tells them otherwise. But as Jesus is teaching about the divine kingdom of God, the disciples keep asking about present, earthly matters. Specifically about leadership as they posed to Jesus the question of kingship over Israel. They are still searching for a king. The messiah is standing in front of them, and telling them about a kingdom far greater than what they could ever imagine, yet they are concerned with only what they can see, only about what they have been told about over the years. They want a new David.
What are some of things we become hyper-focused on, like the disciples?
Prayer: Lord, we know that we do not always see your way and will clearly. Like your first disciples sometimes our attention becomes focused on the wrong things. Forgive us, Lord, and show us again what you have for us to understand. Amen.
Wednesday: “Will Receive” - Acts 1: 7-8
I love Jesus’ response to the disciples question. “You don’t need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls.” God is going to send someone far greater into their lives to be ruler, the Holy Spirit. God is going to give them detailed instructions about when to leave Jerusalem, and presumably what the next step is. But maybe those instructions weren’t enough for the disciples because they wanted someone in front of them to tell them what to do. Someone to command them.
For years Jesus had been their teacher and leader. As he continued to speak about leaving them, you can only imagine how they were feeing – the emotions they were experiencing and the images of the rugged cross searing into their minds. They didn’t want instructions that would put the call to witness solely onto them – they wanted someone to tell them what to do and guide them through their every move. But this was not the plan.
How do you think the disciples were feeling as Jesus was speaking to them this final time?
Prayer: Almighty God, thank you for empowering the disciples to be your witnesses. Thank you for testifying to them about the power of the Holy Spirit that we still see at work today. Thank you, O Lord, for sharing that power and message with your Church here and now as well. Amen.
Thursday: “Looking Up” - Acts 1: 9-11
After Jesus gave them their final teachings concerning the Holy Spirit and their mission as his disciples he was taken up into a cloud. Even though the disciples could not see him after he was taken up they kept looking up into the sky. Like a child watching a balloon disappear into the vastness of the blue above them, the disciples kept looking up, hands over their eyes, hoping to catch one more glimpse of Jesus. Hoping that he would come back like last time. But instead they got two angels coming down and telling them to get their head out of the clouds and to get their legs moving – for they had a mission directly from the Lord. Jesus had been taken into heaven. Now is their time to tell everyone in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria about the good news of Jesus Christ. The message wasn’t always going to be easy to tell, and not everyone would necessarily receive it. They would be called to go to places outside of their comfort zones, but it was now time for them to go out and raise up new disciples of Jesus Christ for the sake of the kingdom of God.
I can just imagine the disciples thinking that this new task was hard, It was not what they signed up for all those years ago when Jesus called out to them. They were tapped to be followers, not leaders. Yet everyone who follows Christ is also called to be a witness. Being the body of Christ is about this tension between following Christ and leading others to Christ through your gifts and graces, through the story you have to tell. For no one can tell your story like you can, because you lived it. The disciples had to tell others about Christ because all of these years they had these wonderful experiences with Christ and soul-changing teachings. And now that their spirit had been nurtured they were sent out.
What do you think it means to be a witness for Jesus Christ in 2020?
Prayer: God of Grace, throughout countless generations, from the time of Acts the whole way until today, you have sent your people out with your Good News. Lord, empower us to go forth and be your witnesses wherever we may find ourselves this week. Amen.
Friday: “Constantly in Prayer” - Acts 1: 12-14
I’m sure the disciples didn’t think that they were ready. For sometimes it’s easier to look up in the sky for a sign or in hopes of Jesus returning then to listen to the voice that is calling us to go. To make disciples. A tasks that doesn’t come with a set of instructions or a leader who we can physically see. I fear that these reasons lead to many Christians deciding that it is too difficult to be a witness of the Good News. We, too, can be paralyzed by fear. We are afraid that people won’t understand us. We are afraid that we will have to go to places that we ought not go. Believe me, the disciples knew our fears all too well – so they tried to keep their vision gazed upward instead of outward. We don’t trust ourselves or believe that we are spiritually fit enough to be leaders, and neither did they. But if the disciples would not have gotten it together and into gear, we would not be here today – we would not be the church. What would we lose out on if we give into our fears? What will not exist in the future because we don’t want the hardships the come with being leaders today?
There is a song that states, “God who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it.” Do we really believe this? Do we really believe that the Ascension was important because it was bringing to completion the life of Jesus here on this earth while propelling forward the creation of the church? Do we really believe that we celebrate this event today because God is still moving the church forward? You have been called by a God who has started something amazing, powerful, and beautiful in you.
What are willing to risk yourself for completion for the sake of the kingdom of God? Prayer: God, we confess that at times we are held back by a spirit of fear. Lord, speak to us over again and again your words for us to be your witnesses to the very ends of the earth. Move us beyond fear to act in faith, we pray. Amen.
Saturday: Preparing for the Word
You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic to prepare for worship: “Peter Heals” - Acts 3: 1-10
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