Daily Devotion, June 1, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Acts 1:6-8.

Lost. Perhaps you can remember the first time you were lost. After Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the disciples felt very lost! But Jesus had given them parting words of comfort and peace, instructions and a promise.

It is believed that Acts is the continuation of Luke’s gospel. In Luke 24:48-49, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, “You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

These verses’ thread is picked up in today’s verses. Jesus is giving them the promise of the Holy Spirit who will guide and empower them to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. With the arrival of the Holy Spirit at work in their lives, they will no longer be lost!

The book of Acts gives us the narrative of the gospel spreading from Jerusalem all the way to Rome! Not only are the disciples and apostles empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel geographically, but their eyes are opened that the gospel is for all people, including Gentiles and the people they considered to be outcasts.

 “The book of Acts re-calls us to a radically selfless gospel whose mission is to reach the ends of the earth. It reminds us that the 'ends of the earth' can be in a land far away, or among the socially marginalized neighbors who live in our shadows every moment.” Dr. Chad Hartsock, wrote in his article, “The Ever-Expanding Gospel”.

The Holy Spirit continues to empower and guide us today. Ease of travel and technology make it possible to reach the ends of the earth with the message of Christ. Yet, for our witness to be effective, we need the Holy Spirit’s power to enable us to actually live in the ways of Christ’s love. This power from the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to forgive and be reconciled; to heal the hurts of poverty and hunger; and to truly love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Personal Worship Option:

Holy Spirit, where or to whom are you guiding me, our small group, and our church to be faithful witnesses of God’s love, forgiveness, and grace through Christ? Amen.