Daily Bible Study

Tweet

JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE ACTS Day 1 Acts 1 Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. The book of Acts was written by Luke who also wrote the gospel bearing his name. Acts is a continuation of Luke, part of the same letter he wrote to Theophilus when he sent the letter, the Gospel of Luke, to him, telling him about Jesus. Now, he writes to him again about the beginning of the church. Luke was a physician and companion of Paul, whom you will meet in Acts. Luke begins where he left off in the gospel at the Mount of Olives with Jesus before He returns to heaven. Two important things happen here. Jesus told the apostles to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Ghost came on them with power, and when He rose to heaven, angels told them Jesus would return the same way He left. He will return through the clouds. As Christians, you wait for the day when Jesus returns in the clouds. He might appear in your lifetime, and many hope He will. However, if Jesus tarries, you are to continue with the work He gave you, teaching, preaching, baptizing, and proclaiming the kingdom of God to all who will listen. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. There is no greater work for you to do than to preach the gospel. You do that in many ways: how you conduct your lives, how you treat people, by becoming missionaries and going where Jesus sends you. You might go no farther than your neighborhood or your workplace. The moment you accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, you became a missionary. Jesus told His disciples they were to be witnesses in Jerusalem – their home, Judea – their country, Samaria – local foreigners, and the ends of the earth – the world. That is your calling too – your home, your country, local foreigners – people of other nationalities who live in your city, and the world. 2 Corinthians 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Your life is a letter, read by everyone you meet. Live your life in such a way that people will know you are Christians and want to know your Savior and Lord. Let’s pray: Father, let my life be a reflection of You so people will know You and the salvation You bring. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 12 January 2019 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay