5 Minute Read
Today’s Bible Reading:
2 Samuel 20:14–21:22
Acts 1:1-26
Psalm 121:1-8
Proverbs 16:18
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
Acts 1:8 (NLT): “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.”
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
The words that someone chooses to say soon before they die are generally very significant.
As a minister, I have been with many dear church members as they neared death and then stepped into eternity. For those who knew that death was coming and were able to speak, the things they chose to tell their families (and even me on occasion) carried significant weight. Why? Because they were saying things that they perceived to be of utmost importance before the final goodbye was said.
When we listen to Jesus say the words in the verse I have chosen for today, we are hearing some of Jesus’ last words before He departed for Heaven. So, they carry a lot of weight and demand our attention.
Acts 1:8 (NLT): “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.”
So, what was Jesus saying in these final words?
Jesus told us that we have a worthy task that will take a lifetime to obey. We have a message to tell everyone, locally and abroad and everywhere in between.
That message is the Gospel. Jesus’ died as the substitute for anyone who will place their trust in Him. His death, burial, and resurrection are more than sufficient to wipe our sin debt clean and enable us to live a God-honoring life empowered by His Holy Spirit. He will be our eternal reward in Heaven when we die.
The world needs the Gospel, but we would be ineffective if it were not for God’s empowerment.
That empowerment came when the Holy Spirit began filling every believer.
As we are filled, we need to get the Gospel out in our local city (“Jerusalem”), our community/state (“Judea”), the region beyond our state where people are different from us (“Samaria”), and the rest of the world (“to the ends of the earth”).
This isn’t just a passing verse that can be brushed over. Acts 1:8 are the very last words that Jesus said before ascending to Heaven. By saying them last, He intended to put extreme significance on them. So, we had better be about the business of doing what He told us to do.
Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com). His latest book is God’s Grace in the Real World. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
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