He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:7-8
We’ve Got a Job to Do
Have you ever played a crucial role in the success of a project or task in your job or school? In the garden of Eden, God gave Adam a job. That job was to care for the plants and animals in the garden. Not only was he called to do that, but to be a faithful steward of creation, as well. Just as God gave Adam a job, so, too, does He give us one.
God gives us a command to participate in the Missio Dei (the mission of God). The mission of God is to reconcile creation back to the Creator, and this starts by making disciples and witnesses as the author of Acts describes here.
Acting With Urgency
We know from verse 7 that no man knows when God has chosen to fulfill His promises. This reminds me of 1 Thessalonians 5:2, which says, “For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.” Therefore, brothers and sisters, we must act on this assignment He has given us with a sense of urgency.
If the Lord were to come this afternoon, would you be content with the number of witnesses you have attempted to make? After all, as we age, our friends and family around us start dying.
Faithful to Our Call
In the context of verse 8, think of Jerusalem as your everyday societal bubble. Be a faithful witness wherever your daily life takes you, so that nonbelievers may see the love of Christ through you and begin to ask questions. Think of Judea and Samaria as the state, national and international levels—in other words, everywhere else that is not in your normal circle of influence. The Lord calls us to go and spread the Word to these places as well. Get involved with mission journeys and make disciples of all nations.
Our mission at Brentwood Baptist is to engage the whole person with the whole gospel of Jesus Christ anywhere, anytime, with anybody. Make haste, for the day of the Lord is coming, and He will come like a thief in the night. Will you be ready? When you are called by God to go and reconcile creation back to Him, will you humbly go? Or will you be like Jonah and flee to your Tarshish?
Now What?
Take a moment to reflect on your calling to make disciples and witnesses of those around you. Now, be honest with yourself about what you might be fleeing from. Use this time to confess these things to the Lord. Pray for spiritual power to overcome, and find a spiritual mentor or discipler to help you engage on mission with Jesus.
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