“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
DEVOTIONAL
First, we see that the power to be effective witnesses comes from the Holy Spirit. As believers, we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, and this gives us the power and boldness to share the gospel message with others. We do not have to rely on our own strength or abilities, but rather on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Second, we see that the mission starts in Jerusalem. This is where the disciples were located at the time, and it was the center of religious and political activity in Israel. In the same way, we are called to start where we are. Our “Jerusalem” may be our neighborhood, our workplace, or our school. We are called to be witnesses for Christ wherever we are planted.
Third, the mission expands to all Judea and Samaria. This represents the surrounding regions outside of Jerusalem. In our context, this may be our city, our state, or our country. We are called to share the gospel message not just with those who are like us, but with everyone around us.
Finally, we see that the mission extends to the ends of the earth. This represents the entire world. As believers, we are called to take the gospel message to every nation and every people group. This may mean going on mission trips, supporting missionaries, or simply being open to sharing the gospel message with people from different cultures and backgrounds.
In order to be effective witnesses for Christ, we must first be filled with the Holy Spirit. This means that we must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and be surrendered to His will. We must also be willing to start where we are and share the gospel message with those around us. This may mean stepping out of our comfort zones and being bold in our faith.
As we expand our mission to all Judea and Samaria, we must be willing to reach out to those who are different from us. This may mean crossing cultural barriers or reaching out to those who are marginalized in our society. We must be willing to show the love of Christ to everyone we meet.
Finally, we must be willing to take the gospel message to the ends of the earth. This means being willing to go wherever God calls us, whether that is across the street or across the world. We must be willing to sacrifice our own comfort and convenience in order to obey God’s calling.
The verse “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” reminds us of our mission as believers. We are called to be witnesses for Christ wherever we are planted, and to take the gospel message to the ends of the earth. May we be filled with the Holy Spirit and bold in our faith as we seek to fulfill this mission.
