Devotion #29

CENTRAL TRUTH: We experience joy as we use our time, talent and treasure to accomplish Christ’s will for New Covenant Bible Church.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 24:50-53

Read today’s passage and see if it hits you like it did me! The disciples were “continually in the temple blessing God” (Luke 24:53 ESV).

As I thought about this final verse in today’s passage, my first thought was, “What in the world were these guys doing continually hanging out in the temple when there were millions of lost people to be reached? How could staying in a holy huddle possibly be blessing God?”

My incredulity quickly ended when I looked at the prior verse, where I discovered that Jesus had said clearly to “Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:52 ESV). I then had an “aha” moment. Obedience kept them in Jerusalem! They had been told their mission—to go into all the world—but for 10 days (between the Ascension and Pentecost) they were obediently waiting to receive God’s power to achieve the mission.

Unlike the disciples, who in that brief 10-day window could live obediently by remaining in their holy huddle, you and I live in the post-Pentecost era. We have already been given both the mission and the power. Obedience for us is to leave our holy huddle and go into all the world.

So what are we doing about that?

If you have not done so yet, please open your Journey Guide to the corresponding devotion in the Reading Journal section. Journal your thoughts in response to the questions found there, spend some time in prayer, and take a couple of minutes to review this week's Memory Verse.

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Today's Author

Mark Forstrom

My name is Mark Forstrom. I am the Senior High Pastor at New Covenant. I have been on staff at New Covenant for 15 years, and it’s a joy and privilege to serve on this team!

My wife, Cindy, and I have been married for 21 years. Our two daughters, Brenda (14) and Lexi (11), bring us great delight. Something most people do not know about me is that after I proposed to Cindy, I arranged for her to get her diamond engagement ring out of a gumball machine at K-Mart as we were about to exit the store.

Comments

[Debbie Mason]

Day 29, and the first time I have offered a comment, but I too was thinking as I read the passage, "Why only these 3 verses?" And I too, went back in the passage, though the context was familiar already, to get to the "What does this mean for today?" answer. Mark helped me to clarify the answer, (and don't you love it when current culture gives us slogans we can use for His glory!?), and the answer is "Get out there!!!" We already have everything we need or could want to tell the world the greatest news in the world! Let's "Just do it!"

[Tye Male]

Thanks for the devo Mark. This one hit me in a couple different ways. First, I think the only logical place for the Christ-followers to congregate was the temple since they were told to stay in Jerusalem. Acts 2 tells us that they would eventually begin meeting in homes as well. And if I'm not mistaken I would have to believe that there would have plenty of unbelievers there in the temple who had firsthand knowledge of the crucifixion and subsequent resurrection. It would have been like hanging out in a coffee shop the day after some national tragedy - the coffee and conversation would have been flowing!

Second, they were praising God, but for what? Jesus Christ! That would have been a bit dangerous in those days so I think they were probably taking quite a risk to do so.

The thing that hit me was the "praising God continually" phrase. I had to ask myself if I do that and I don't think I do. Today my challenge is to praise God continually with a life of service, selflessness, and sacrifice because of all he has done in my life! He is praiseworthy!

[Richard Kramer]

They finally got it. Observing Jesus’ miraculous ascension the disciples were finally convinced that He was more than a preacher or a prophet. He was indeed God and worthy to be worshiped and celebrated with great joy.

Like Mark and Debbie I also had to read the previous passage to find reasons for their actions and feelings described in these three verses. Sharon and I discussed Acts 2 (Tye mentioned it) to flesh out the details of their stay in Jerusalem when they were filled with the Holy Spirit and made ready to witness to the world about Jesus.

The message for us today is one of encouragement to do likewise.
“So what are we doing about that?” Thanks, Mark.
“Praise God continually with a life of service.” Thanks, Tye.
“Just do it.” Thanks, Debbie.
“I will be with you always.” Thanks Jesus.