Day 39: The Home Front

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8 

            Jesus’ mission was to do the will of the Father. What was the Father’s will? To spread His message of good news, that those who believe in Him will be saved. Jesus’ life and death were dedicated to showing those around Him what God was like and what God wanted from them. He was a witness; He had first-hand knowledge of God to share with people, and He told what He knew so that others could know it too.

            Then, as He was completing His time on earth, He told His followers that they would gain power from the Holy Spirit, and this power would give them the ability to be witnesses too.

            Jesus was speaking to the people He knew, but His words are for us too! We are His followers now, just like the disciples who worked with Jesus were then. What does it mean to be a witness? Well, a witness is simply someone who tells what they know. The disciples witnessed by telling what they had seen: that Jesus had died and risen again to forgive sins. They told how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies in the Jewish scriptures and described how Jesus had forgiven them.

            This is what we are to do, too. Tell others how Jesus died and rose again. Tell about how Jesus proved He was God. Describe what Jesus has changed your life.

            And who should you tell? Jesus told His followers that they would be witnesses “in Jerusalem.” That was their city. The place they were living right then. The first place they were to share was the place they lived. Jesus had witnessed in the same way. He was Jewish, so He focused His ministry on the Jewish people. Look around you! Who are the people living near you who need to hear the gospel? Phoenix needs to hear it. Your neighbors need to hear it. Your family needs to hear it. Maybe there are people in your own household who need you to be a witness.

            Remember, Jesus promised you the power you need to be a witness.

Questions for reflection and discussion

  • When you witness, what will you say about how God works in your life?
  • Where should you start being a witness?

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to give me power to be a witness. Help me use that power to help the people around me. In Jesus’ name, amen.