Devotion
Acts 1:1 "In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach..."
Many of us are wrapping up our holiday gatherings. Maybe you went to your parents' house and enjoyed the hospitality of those that raised you. Perhaps you were the ones that the kids came home to, and you got to spoil children or grandchildren. Or maybe you had a gathering of friends-as-close-as-family.
Whatever the case, I'm sure there was a certain amount of reminsicing. Perhaps you pulled out some old scrapbooks. Or scrolled through photos on your phone, looking at years past. Grandma told a story with passion and laughter, though she's told it a thousand times. You lost track of the number of times someone said, "Remember when . . . ?"
This year, our church will be journeying through a book of the Bible called “The Acts of the Apostles,” usually just called "Acts." Acts serves as a history book of the early church, chronicling what happened after Jesus' death and resurrection. It was how the first followers of Jesus said, "Remember when . . . ?"
However, the title "The Acts of the Apostles" is probably not the best title. When we look at the first verse of the first chapter, the author writes, "I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach." This implies that the book that you are about to read is all about what Jesus will continue to do and to teach.
Yes, it's true. In this book, Jesus will ascend. His physical, bodily presence will be rarely seen. But Jesus' works actually continue through His people, His followers, His church.
Which means that when the church (followers of Jesus like you and me) acts like Jesus is King, we are in fact showing the world what Jesus would do.
That's why we can call the book of Acts "The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus." Even though we'll be reading about Peter and Priscilla and Phoebe and Paul, what we're reading about is what Jesus is doing through them, in them, and around them.
Just because you can't see Him, Jesus is still intimately involved in your day-to-day life too. His Spirit is alive within you, transforming you into the very image of God, as you cooperate with His Spirit.
As you enter into 2019, take some time to remember and reminisce about how Jesus has been involved in your life. Can you remember your first encounter with Him? Take some time now to remember when your baptism was, put it on your calendar, and celebrate it like you would a birthday or anniversary. And then pay attention to how He is in your life toay, tomorrow, and the day after that.