Amazing God of love, pour out Your love on the life of this dear reader during those times of challenge they may face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Acts 1: 1 Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. 3 After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. 4 As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. 5 John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon." 6 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?" 7 He told them, "You don't get to know the time. Timing is the Father's business. 8 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." 9 These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. 10 They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared - in white robes! 11 They said, "You Galileans! - why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly - and mysteriously - as he left." (The Message)
Okay, so the world did not end on the 21st of May. The source behind that date said that it was "invisible" and that the first step that did take place on that day was the Judgment of God and so, on the 21st of October, the world will end. Sigh. That means no birthday for me four days later, at least here on earth. Shucks. But, I bet they have greater gifts in Heaven! Re-read this passage, especially verse 7b. Read it out loud, "Timing is the Father's business." This coming Sunday we celebrate the day when Jesus left the earth in full sight of the disciples with the angels being the ones doing some of the heavy talking, namely, "You've got work to do! God needs witnesses to tell the story in all those places you're from and you go to often, like Jerusalem (your hometown), Judea (beyond your hometown, i.e. your state), and Samaria (even those places you're not crazy about!). And you won't get it done by just standing here and looking upward all the time!"
So it is with us and our lives and churches. We've got work to do. Especially since so many no longer come to church, church has to go to them. We find ourselves like the "church" of Jesus' day. People no longer felt welcome or that it was necessary, so Jesus came and signed up disciples to get the church's work started. In John Wesley's day, the church was not reaching the people, so Wesley signed up followers to get the church to the people where the people were at. What made us believe that line in that movie, "If you build it they will come?" That may hold true for a baseball stadium in the middle of a corn field, but a true church, where God's Kingdom fills the hearts of people is everywhere, not just a corn field. Our work is to build up the Kingdom wherever we can.
PRAYER: Loving God, build up in me Your Kingdom and help me find those who will help take the story to the streets, the ballparks, the stores, work places, lakes, oceans, RV Parks, wherever You lead, so that those there will find You and Your love. I know it won't be easy, but with the power of Your Holy Spirit I can do it. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
