Acts 1:6-8
When they were together for the last
time they asked, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel
now? Is this the time?”
He told them, “You don’t get to know the
time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy
Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of
the world.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
“Now can we have a prize?”
This is the question our children asked me after they had played
together nicely for a few minutes earlier this week. I explained that
we had the whole day to spend together…and if they continued to behave
well, I would indeed bring out the prize basket at some point. The kids
didn’t know when this would happen…but they knew what they had to do to
earn a treat or toy! And for the most part, they waited patiently and
got along. When they least expected it, I brought out the prize basket
and let them choose a reward.
Okay, so this is a really
simplified illustration to unpack the return of Jesus. But there ARE
some parallels. 1) We don’t know the hour or day for Christ’s return.
It could happen before you finish reading this devotional, or it could
happen centuries from now. We simply do not know. 2) We have been given
a purpose…the “Great Commission” to witness for Jesus to all people
throughout the world. This is not a command for you to hop on a plane
and travel to Africa to become a missionary. It is a call for us to
serve wherever and whenever God provides us with opportunities…to “be
the hands and feet of Jesus” on this earth until He returns or calls us
Home.
I’ve thought a lot about timing lately. None of us knows
how long we will be on this earth…or what the day will bring. If you
had told me three months ago what all would happen in our family alone,
I’m pretty sure I would not have believed you. Life is filled with
surprises…and none of us is promised tomorrow…or even the next hour!
But
what we ARE promised is that Jesus has sent His Holy Spirit to be with
us every step of the way! We are promised Eternity in His presence, if
we surrender our heart and our sins to Him. We are offered the ultimate
“prize”…and in the scheme of things, very little is required in
return. The question becomes, “Why wouldn’t we want to share this Good
News with others?” I don’t serve Jesus because I have to…but because I want
to do this! It seems like a no-brainer to me in light of Who He is in
my life and the way that He cares for me every single minute!
My
prayer this week is that you would take a hard look at what Jesus
did…and what He DOES for you every single day. Think about all that He
has sacrificed just so we can be with Him forever…free of guilt and
shame, sin and sickness. How can we not share His message with others?
How can we not strive to live as He designed each and every day – and
serve Him with our whole heart?
How can we “celebrate” Holy
Week and not understand what it means to truly be Christ’s disciple…and
demonstrate this to the world – or our little corner of it? Are YOU
“all in” this week before Easter? Will you continue to serve after the
eggs and bunnies are packed away? The question the Disciples asked
Jesus about His return could be asked of us in regard to our Christian
service. So I ask you today…”Is this the time?” Don’t you think it
should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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