A Favorite - I needed the reminder...

 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 1:8 NLT

The last recorded words of Jesus while on this Earth - and you will be My witnesses... And they did exactly that - in the order He declared. They started their witness in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Pretty amazing when you think about it and all the limits to their methods of communication and modes of travel. And much of their travel was unplanned. It was because of the persecution of the early church that they traveled to other areas and to the ends of the earth. I'm not sure we can even wrap our minds around the many trials they faced in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

However, do you realize that we know about Jesus because the Holy Spirit empowered them to be witnesses? They were hiding in a room until the Holy Spirit lit on them like tongues of fire. 

Where do we hide? Are we quiet out of fear of what someone might think? Do we run from persecution? satan will always try to stop our witness. How did we get where we are today? I believe with all my heart that God has used the circumstances in our lives to bring us to the place we are today to be a witness for Him. 

We might not stand in a public square like Peter and witness to thousands of people who become believers in one day... but we might. It could happen. Do you know that according to Scripture the combined missionary trips of Paul by land and sea equal more than 13,000 air miles - before there was any such thing as air miles? We might not ever travel more than a few hundred miles in our lifetime, but we might witness to someone who will be a world traveler.

In today's world, I can sit here in my home, share my thoughts and what I've learned of Christ according to His written Word in my life, and with the click of a button I can publish it. Then by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, people a half a world away will find it and read it. People I will never meet until Jesus calls us Home. How'd we get here? ...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Prayer:

Father,

           Give us Your wisdom, O God. We need Your precious Holy Spirit so that we can accomplish the work You have for us to do. Pour out Your power to give us the courage and the ability to walk out Your purpose in our lives. Open our eyes, Father, to see You. Open our hearts to love as You love. Open our mouths to witness to others. Let Your light so shine through us that others will see our good works and glorify You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen