Thursday, May 14, 2015
JESUS' MESSENGERS SAY, "GET GOING!"
Forty days after celebrating our Lord's resurrection on Easter Sunday, today we celebrate Jesus' ascension into heaven. But there are three messages that are easy for His disciples (then and now) to overlook!
The first message is that disciples need to "get going" on the reading, hearing, and growing in understanding of the Scriptures and what God's Word says about Jesus:
Acts 1:6-7 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
The disciples were still looking for an earthly kingdom, rather than understanding that Jesus had come to defeat sin, death, and the devil. This costly victory was paid in full for our souls with His own perfect blood and by His almighty power over death itself!
The second message is from Jesus' angels (messengers) who tell the disciples to "get going" to share what they know:
Acts 1:10-12 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." Then they returned to Jerusalem ...
It is easy to get caught up in celebrating Jesus' wondrous works and forget there is more work to be done for Christ's Kingdom of Grace!
The third message is that Jesus has ascended to heaven and has a reminder for you:
Acts 1:8-9 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Jesus has given you the Holy Spirit. You are His disciple and messenger now -- beginning in your home, surrounding city and state, and "to the end of the earth!" Jesus' says to His messengers to "get going" and share His Gospel of peace, forgiveness, and eternal life in all the world! (Matthew 28:19-20).
