Daily Encouragement Day 244 – Acts 1

The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 to go and make disciples of all nations is supplemented by Christ’s last words to His disciples before His ascension into heaven: “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (1:8).  Luke wrote Acts to provide a historical link between the gospels and the epistles and to chronicle the key events that brought about the birth and rapid spread of the church beginning in Jerusalem and moving beyond the borders of Israel to the other provinces of the Roman Empire.

The resurrected Lord instructs His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit who will empower them to be His witnesses.  After Jesus ascends into heaven, the disciples choose Matthias to replace Judas as an apostle.

READING of ACTS 1

Prayer:

Lord, it is Your Holy Spirit who empowers me to be Your witness to the people in my sphere of influence.  May I live in such a way that they will be attracted to Jesus.

Meditation passage for today: verses 3-8