Daily Devotionals

Escaping Ordinary Week 1: Friday

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.” Acts 1:8

The Bible clarifies that we, as followers of Christ, have a big job to do. First, God calls us to share our faith. We have to spread Christ’s message to everyone around us. You might be overwhelmed with this calling. Please know you don’t have to do it on your own. As a result, we have to pray that God will go with us. We must pray for God’s guidance, boldness, and help as we carry out His mission. 

Right before He returned to Heaven in Acts 1, Jesus made it clear that He had a job to do. He told them to share His message throughout the world. He said, “You will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (verse 8). Jesus says this and then ascends into Heaven, leaving them with a mission. What did they do next? Scripture tells us that before they did anything, they prayed (verse 14). They prayed together often (verse 14). Why? One of the reasons must have been that they knew they had a big job. They needed God’s help, so they prayed. This focus on prayer continued throughout the New Testament. The apostle Paul asked the church in Ephesus to pray for Him to have the boldness to share the gospel. He wrote to them in Ephesians 6, “I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should” (verse 20). He wanted the courage to continue sharing about Jesus in the middle of persecution.

 Just like Jesus’ disciples and Paul, we have the same calling from Jesus to share about Him with the world around us. We cannot do it on our own. We have to pray. We have to turn to God for help, courage, and boldness. May we carry on the tasks of the first disciples and Paul and make Christ known around us!

Moving toward action

Take the next few minutes to pray to spread the good news of Jesus in light of your calling. Ask God for boldness. Ask Him that you would have the courage and confidence to share His message when the opportunities come. Next, pray that God will also give you the right words to say. Finally, pray for the people you encounter who do not know Him. Ask God to work in their hearts so that they would be receptive to His message.

Going Deeper

Acts 1:1-11 (NLT)

"In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. 3 During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized withcwater, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 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.”

9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”