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6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” 12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:6-14 NIV)
A blessed and happy Thursday to you, dear Reader. May this bless you and your day, and in turn become a blessings to others. Nellie and I were in Houston and I did not have the time to prepare today's devotional as I wanted. Please be prayer for one another; pray for yourselves and the needs of the world. Why do we pray? Because God answers prayers!
The question almost gives away the position where some of the disciples found themselves as they were still grieving and celebrating the Risen Christ; a question about the kingdom of Israel after all the Lord said about the true kingdom, the Kingdom of God. It was important for most of the Jews for Israel to once again regain its place among the nations that it once had, but they missed the point of Jesus' mission, to restore the kingdom of God to its proper place in the hearts of people. Still, Jesus loves them and answers them in a loving way saying it was not the time to ask, for no one knows the times or dates the Father has already set in His authority. The important thing, according to Jesus, was know they has were to "receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." In other words, witnesses into all the world on His behalf. As soon as Jesus says this, He ascends into Heaven. The disciples kept their gaze on Jesus until they could no longer see Him. Their sky gazing is interrupted by the question of an angel who asks them, "Why do you stand here looking into the sky?" Good question, given that up to this point, every day brought a new challenge and a new insight into their lives and its purpose. The angel then said, "This same Jesus, Who has been taken from you into Heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into Heaven."
The disciples then walked back to Jerusalem from where they had been to the Upper Room to await what was next. And what was next we know quite well, the coming of the Holy Spirit as flames from above. But for now, they were to ponder and pray. Luke lists those whom he knows by name; Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaesus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. Constant in prayer, the women who followed Jesus and Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus' brothers. Prayer for preparation; prayer for power to be the most effective witnesses they could be for Jesus. And lest I forget, they were fearing for their very lives; praying for God's protection.
Friends, the theme for this week, according to the passages we've studied, Jesus prayed for us, Jesus is on the job, and still involved in assisting all who would give of themselves to further the work of the kingdom, the true kingdom, the Kingdom of God.
PRAYER: Loving God, bless our efforts to share Your love for all. Help us look beyond the trials and tribulations that may come our way, and to look to You; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Help someone share Jesus.
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
