Well, I am off to a late start already. It's hard getting back into the swing again!!!
As I was reading in Acts 1 about how Jesus returned to the disciples after he rose from the grave to prove to them that He was alive I read the verse where the two men in white robes stood by them as they watched Jesus finally go up into heaven and they said to the disciples - ".....someday He will return from heaven in the same way you saw Him go!" I remembered the prophecy yesterday at church about the soon return of the Lord. I haven't heard a prophecy about that in a loooooong time. BUT I do believe we are going to hear more in the coming days. We have to be reminded that the end is upon us and there is but a short time to 1. get our act together and 2. lead others to the foot of the cross. And I feel that "older" more "seasoned" Christians are going to sense this urgency more that the young ones who are so caught up in daily living. Jesus IS coming back - we don't know when - but we are told over and over again in scripture to be sensitive of the times and to be ready at all times.
Last night I had an unusual experience - I was all alone, as Matthew went home for a couple of days and Jerry isn't back yet - so I turned my alarm on. At 4 in the am it went off and the alarm company called me and asked me if I wanted the police to come. This has NEVER happened before - a sensor in the downstairs had gone off - so I asked him what could set it off and he replied "something as little as a spider". Well, it was still so unusual - here I had set it and I haven't done that in ages AND IT WENT OFF!!! So I had the police come AND I called Solo - my brave son-in-law. Of course it was nothing - but I still didn't stay here - I went home with Solo and slept on their couch the rest of the night.
Well, I believe alarms are going off all the time from the Lord - warning us to be ready, to be alert, to pay attention. This alarm sure got my attention!!! What is it going to take for the Lord to get our attention???
"Wake us up, oh Lord - no matter what You have to do!!!"
2 comments:
“But WHEN the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you WILL receive power and WILL tell people about me everywhere …” (vs. 8)
This verse does not say “if” the Holy Spirit has come upon you but rather “when” the Holy Spirit has come upon you. This was spoken to Jesus’ disciples, but it is for every believer today... Acts 2:38-39, “ … Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away (all generations) – whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.” (Message Remix). Talk about a gift that keeps on giving!
WHEN we have received the Holy Spirit, we WILL receive power and a very clear directive … we WILL tell people about Jesus. The footnote in my study bible says that “power from the Holy Spirit” is not limited to strength beyond the ordinary. This power also includes courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability and authority!
Since I was a very young child, I have felt that I would see Jesus’ return in my lifetime. Maybe I will … maybe I won’t … only the Father knows the time of Jesus’ return. We need to live as though Jesus’ return could be today. The Holy Spirit is our courage, our boldness, our confidence . . . He gives us insight, ability, and He is the authority by which we speak! There really are no valid excuses for not sharing Jesus!
“Father, your desire is that no man should perish, but that all should come into the knowledge of the truth. Open my eyes and ears to the people you bring across my path, whose hearts you have prepared, so I don’t miss the opportunity to share Jesus with them. Amen.”
I agree... wake us up, Lord! I don't want to be so wrapped up in day to day life that I don't see what God is doing and the time I am living in.
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