Daily Devotion, November 7, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Acts 1:6-8.

The last few verses of the Gospel of Matthew are what is often called “The Great Commission,” where Jesus gave his disciples their mission for the rest of their lives. This is Luke’s version of that mission. It is the mission, or purpose, not only for disciples then, but for all time.

I see two points of emphasis in this mission. First, your power for this mission comes from God; it comes from the Holy Spirit. Jesus had already told the disciples to wait where they were to receive this power. We find out later in the chapter that they spent this time of waiting “devoting themselves to prayer.” They were not just sitting around doing nothing. They were united in seeking God’s presence. It was into this united group that the Holy Spirit came to empower them for their mission. (Followers of Jesus Christ, please read those last two sentences again.)

Second, you are to tell others about your experience with Jesus Christ, wherever you are. That includes those closest to you, those like you and those who are not like you. Yes, you can lead others to Jesus by doing good deeds and serving the needs of others. But at some point, there comes a time of needing to speak, to let them know why you are doing this. What motivates you to do these things? It is at that point you get to let them know who has motivated and inspired you to do these things.

  

Stay connected to the one who empowers you for your mission, then go do it. And remember, this mission was given to a group, united in Jesus Christ to serve him together. Personal Worship Option:

Frederick Morley wrote these words to a hymn:

O church of God, united to serve one common Lord, proclaim to all one message, with hearts in glad accord.

Christ ever goes before us; we follow day by day with strong and eager footsteps along the upward way.

May (your) great prayer be answered that we may all be one, close bound, by love united in (you), God’s blessed Son;

To bring a single witness, to make the pathway bright, that souls which grope in darkness may find the one true light.