Read
“After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
(Acts 1: 9-11)
Think
Jesus had warned his disciples the day was coming when he would return to his Father’s side, but it must have come as a shock all the same when the day finally came. Why did it have to be that way?
If God had wished, Jesus could have remained here permanently – healing the sick, sharing the good news, building his church and his kingdom. Incredibly, his choice was to return to heaven and leave the world shaking work of declaring the good news and carrying God’s message of love and forgiveness to the ends of the earth.
Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7)
Instead of having one God-man walking the earth, we have a global family of children, women and men, adopted into the family of God and, crucially, filled with his Holy Spirit. Instead of millions of disciples all trying to video chat with Jesus for guidance, we have his very Spirit living in us, teaching us all things, empowering us to live the way we are called, and to live with the same compassion, joy, peace, and miraculous power as our saviour.
It’s an unending wonder to me that God chooses to use us – and also a sharp reminder that we aren’t at our leisure. There is compassion to be shown, good news to be shared, a life of faith to be lived and a kingdom to be built. We have been called, equipped, and sent out into the world. How then shall we live?
Pray
Dear Father, thank you that you have entrusted us with so much. Thank you for a part to play in your great story, thank you for allowing us to join in this incredible mission, thank you that you go on giving us your Spirit to completely transform our lives.
Please help us to take seriously the work you have given us – going about the steady work of faith – sometimes scary, sometimes tiring, but always peaceful, always full of the joy you give, always your power at work in our weakness. Your kingdom come on Earth, as it is in Heaven. Amen
