Our Daily Devotion for Tuesday, September 29th, 2020

1 Theophilus, the first scroll I wrote concerned everything Jesus did and taught from the beginning, 2 right up to the day when he was taken up into heaven. Before he was taken up, working in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus instructed the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed them that he was alive with many convincing proofs. He appeared to them over a period of forty days, speaking to them about God’s kingdom. 4 While they were eating together, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised. He said, “This is what you heard from me: 5 John baptized with water, but in only a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 As a result, those who had gathered together asked Jesus, “Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now?” 7 Jesus replied, “It isn’t for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 Rather, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”      Acts 1:1-8
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age   Matthew 28:18-20
 
These two readings are kind of a fulfillment of what Jesus had taught, that He needed to be in Heaven in order for God to bring The Holy Spirit to baptize the believers and send them into the world as witnesses. Following His death and resurrection, Jesus spent many days showing Himself to them and giving them instructions. Once that time was finished, it was then time for Jesus to ascend , and for The Holy Spirit to guide The Twelve as they established the church and their work in Jerusalem !!
 
Let us pray together – Holy and Eternal One , through Your great love for all of us , you brought Your son Jesus into this world to take our sins upon His shoulders, and save us all from certain death by His death and resurrection. As You filled The Twelve with The sustaining power of The Holy Spirit , we pray that You would fill us , that we can be like them – witnesses to You , Your Grace and Love, and The Good News of Jesus – who lived, died and rose again from the dead !!!  Amen !
 
Yours in Christ  ,  Rollie  

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