“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.” (Acts 1:8)

 Last words are important. They communicate what is most important on a person’s mind, while reinforcing what needs to be remembered. In today’s passage, we find some of the final words and instructions of Jesus for His disciples prior to His ascension. There are two important truths at work here. First, the strength to do what has been asked of us by Jesus does not come from within. Our power is from on high. The reality of this verse was experienced on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and the early church. That power is still at work today within the church and in us. We have all that we will ever need in Him. Second, every believer is employed in the task of introducing people to Jesus. His command to be witnesses should not be accomplished by verbal communication alone. Our life, as much as our words, is witness to the world about Jesus. What we do and how we live matters as much as our words. It is one of the reasons so many people are turned off to Christianity. They don’t see any difference between Christians and everyone else. Wherever we find ourselves, whether that be Jerusalem (your community), Judea and Samaria (your state and country), or the uttermost parts of the world, you are witness to the One who changed your life.

Reflection Questions.

How do people see you? Would someone else characterize you as a Christ-follower?

Where is there inconsistency between your life and your message?

How does it make you feel that someone else may make their decision about trusting Jesus based on what they see in your life?

“Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, ‘Look at us.’ So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, ‘Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them – walking, leaping, and praising God.” (Acts 3:1-8)

Have you ever found yourself in a situation, perhaps as a result of an injury, surgery, or illness, that has forced you to be dependent on others?  For most of us, that is a very uncomfortable position. We watch those in our household getting their own food, dressing themselves, and performing other fundamental daily tasks while we cannot. We desperately want our independence restored.  One day Peter and John met a man in Jerusalem who had been crippled from birth. Without a doubt this man wanted to be like the others in his life. Instead, his disability sent him to the streets to beg for money, food, and help. As this man lay destitute and disheveled, Peter and John stepped into this man’s life, touched him, and offered him the one thing he needed more than anything. Not money. Not food. Not the ability to walk. They offered him Jesus. By God’s mercy and power, the man was made whole; both physically and spiritually. Christians are the church on the street. We encounter people every day who are hurting and helpless. We must be willing to dirty our hands in the work of the ministry. We must be willing to move past the comfortable to the uncomfortable. We must be willing to give away what we have. Above all, we must ensure that we give away the main thing. People might have piles of problems we want God to fix. Some may be serious: cancer, financial burdens, etc. Yet the most important thing people need is not a quick fix from God. The most important thing people need is the Savior Jesus Christ.

Reflection Questions.

When was the last time you stepped into another’s life because their need moved you to action? How did you feel afterwards?

In our service to people, we must often meet a physical need before we can introduce them to their most important need: spiritual healing and forgiveness of sin. Do you agree? If yes, what would that look like practically?

“So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.” (1 Kings 19:19-21)

Elijah the prophet placed his mantle (cloak) upon the shoulders of Elisha the farmer. Elijah was summoning Elisha, at God’s leading, to leave his farm and take on the work of prophet for God’s people. This was not a small request, and it would require a great commitment from Elisha. He made his commitment clear. He brought an end to his occupation as a farmer by killing his oxen, burning the plow to cook the meat, and sharing it with his family and neighbors. They had become witnesses to the change in his life. Elisha wanted to show God and everyone that he was fully committed. From that point forward, there was no looking back. Whole-hearted service requires a commitment to allow the Holy Spirit work in our lives. Service in the kingdom does not always demand a career change, but it does require placing everything we have into God’s service.

Reflection Questions.

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being uninvolved and 5 being totally involved), how would you rate your current level of service through the church? Why did you give yourself that score?

Are you carrying around things from your past that are keeping you from whole-heartedly serving the Lord today? Name them.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters–that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.” (Jeremiah 29:4-7)

Jeremiah wrote to a group of Jews who had been carried away as captives to Babylon. I would imagine they were disillusioned, uncertain, and apprehensive about the reality of living in a land that did not appreciate their religious position. Jeremiah had a message for them: relax and settle down. He told them go ahead and “do life.” This included building houses, planting gardens, and raising families. The Jews had been planted in Babylon by God for a specific reason and season. Jeremiah encouraged captives to grow where God planted them. We must fight the urge to serve and do ministry somewhere else. We must fight the “greener grass” syndrome and settle into the unique situations of our lives. In His wisdom, God has allowed you to work, live, and shop in a very specific context, having considered t your talents, passions, and gifting. The place where placement and passion collide is your mission field. I am sure the Jews wanted to be back home in Jerusalem. He told them to be “all in” where God moved them. That is good advice for us today: be “all in” where you are.

Reflection Questions.

It seems at times we are rather impatient people with limited attention spans. Why do you think we look for greener grass?

We are told to grow where we are planted. In what area of your life would you like to see growth?

This is the final week of devotionals that deal with the purposes of Sunday School. The focus this week is serving people.

“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38)

As Jesus went about His daily activities, He observed people. Matthew records that on one occasion, a multitude (great number) of people grabbed the Savior’s attention. The people were lost, scattered, and without direction. Their condition moved Jesus to action. He compared their condition and destiny to that of a field ready for harvest, but lacking sufficient means to reap. What types of eyesight do we have when it comes to those in our fields of influence? Sometimes we have corporate eyes which ask the question, “What can they do for us?” Sometimes we have judicial eyes which ask the question, “What will they do to us?” Missionary eyes allow us to see people as Jesus did: helpless and hopeless. When we truly see them we will be moved to action on their behalf.

Reflection Questions.

Why do you think Jesus did not tell His disciples to go feed or minister to the multitude that day? Why do you believe Jesus commanded prayer first?

There are specific places you go on a regular basis. You likely see the same people. Have you taken the time to truly “see” them for who they are? Name two people that you see regularly in your fields that you will commit to lift to the Lord in prayer.

“If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

This is a portion of Paul’s discourse on love. Sandwiched between two chapters dealing with the description and employment of spiritual gift is the chapter which reminds us that the usage of our gifts in service must be guided by love. Without love, it does not matter how eloquent we speak; it is only noise. Without love, mountain-moving faith is hollow. Without love, all knowledge and revelation is self-serving. The old expression is certainly true that people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. When we love others as Christ has loved us, we want the best for them. When we love others as Christ has loved us, we want to celebrate with them and cry alongside them. Love is central to everything we are as Christians. Love leads us to hands-on service. Love leads us to worship the Lord in spirit and truth. Love leads us to share the gospel with the lost. Sometimes people may seem unlovable. That is okay, love them anyway. I am certain that at times in the past we acted unlovable before God. Yet, He loved us anyway. Love is patient, kind, seeks the best interests of the other person first, and never demands anything in return. Allow love to guide everything you do.

Reflection Questions.

When you stop and think of the many ways that God has loved/loves you, what do you   appreciate the most?

Think about your neighbors, co-workers, and friends. How are you loving them? Think of a few ways you could demonstrate your love for them.

“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Ephesians 1:15-17)

Paul engaged the Ephesian Christians on many levels. He encouraged them in difficult times, preached the gospel powerfully before them, and lived a Christ-centered life among them. The fact that Paul told them he prayed for them continually speaks volumes to his care and concern for them. He told them how he prayed for them. This is important. We often say to the others, “I’m praying for you.” How much more encouraging would it be to share exactly how we are praying for them. Paul prayed they would know Christ more, thus becoming wiser and gaining more understanding of His will for them. A good habit for every Christian would be, when asked by another, “would you pray for me?” to respond, “How, exactly?”

Reflection Questions.

What do you believe is the biggest obstacle to effectively praying for others? How can you move beyond that obstacle?

Has someone recently asked you to pray for them? Reach out to that person and ask them how you can pray specifically for them.

“For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” (1 Corinthians 8:10-13)

In Paul’s day, it was customary for the meat used as worship offerings in the pagan temples to find its way into the local marketplaces. Gentile Christians who had been saved out of paganism had an issue with the Jewish Christians who would eat this meat. Their freedom had become a stumbling block to the younger, less mature Christians. Thus, Paul told the Corinthian church that it may be necessary to curb their personal freedom to not offend. Paul said that just because you “can” do something does not always mean that you “should.” His lesson: proper love and care for others will lead you to consider how your actions affect them. To demonstrate his point, Paul said that he would not eat the offensive meat if it would cause a less mature Christian to stumble. We are taught by the secular world to assert our individual rights, placing ourselves as a priority. The Bible teaches us that love for others should be the priority. We do not live our lives in a spiritual vacuum. Our actions affect our families, the church, and the surrounding community. When it comes to the matter of personal freedom, the lack of a stop sign does not always means go.

Reflection Questions.

What are the areas/actions that most often create an offense to the less mature Christian?

Would you be willing to give up something the Bible does not prohibit because it may be   damaging to a less mature Christian?