May 24, 2009
BLESSINGS OF REMAINING
On Thursday, we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus. As I am reading through the account in Acts 1, I couldn’t help but reflect on the wide range of emotions that were going through the minds and hearts of the disciples and other followers of Jesus. They had spent three long years watching Jesus teach, preach, heal, and love. Then they went through a week of hell watching Him be tortured, beaten and finally crucified. But Easter Sunday came and HE WAS ALIVE and they got to spend another 40 days with Him, listening, watching, and loving Him. Now they once again have to say goodbye to their beloved teacher, leader, and Savior. But this time it’s different, this time they know He’s going home in glory. This time Jesus is leaving them, not in mourning, but in power and with purpose – the purpose of spreading the Gospel “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) And with those words, Jesus went back home to be with His Father and prepare a place for all who believe in Him.
Jesus gives us the same power and the same purpose He gave those early disciples. Although He no longer physically walks the face of the earth – He is alive and working in and through us. Equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit, He commissions us to “Be my witness” in our families, our communities, our country, and our world. In the past weeks we have been reminded to remain, as vines, connected to the branch of Jesus Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we receive the blessings of Jesus Christ that work through us to carry out His great commission. Observe
BLESSINGS OF REMAINING
BLESSING OF FELLOWSHIP AND PRAYER: “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers”. (Acts 1:14)
Remaining in Jesus means we have access with the Father and we receive power to be reconciled with each other and enjoy true fellowship with other believers.
BLESSING OF PRODUCTIVITY AND GROWTH: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” Psalm 1:1-3
Remaining in Jesus means we meet often with Him in His Word and through the Sacraments which results in spiritual nourishment, fruit, and growth.
BLESSINGS OF PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE: “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” 1 John 5:11
Remaining in Jesus means we have confidence that because He lives, we too shall live – eternally.
BLESSINGS OF PROTECTION AND PEACE: “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” John 17:13-18
Remaining in Jesus means we receive HIS joy, HIS protection, HIS WORD, HIS Truth, and HIS Glory. It’s all about HIM!! Apart from Jesus we have nothing, can do nothing, and have no future. But in Jesus we have it all!!!!
Stay connected to Jesus in His Word, in Prayer, in fellowship with other believers, and in the Sacraments. Stay connected with Jesus and through HIS power, we can: carry out His commission, be His witness, and connect others to Jesus. Is there any better purpose for life than that?
Week ending: May 24th, 2009
Monday – (Old Testament)
Acts1:12-26
Notice how the disciples made their decisions – Purpose, pray, proceed – all because they are connected to Jesus
Tuesday – Psalm 1
Picture a big, beautiful willow tree by the river – that’s who we are in Jesus
Wednesday –(Epistle)
1 John 5:9-15
Ah the great comfort and promise of being connected with Jesus – eternal life, it doesn’t get any better than that
Thursday – (Gospel)
John 17:11b-19
What an amazing thought – Jesus prayed for YOU!!
Friday – Reread John 17
What thoughts and feelings are evoked knowing that Jesus prayed for you on the night in which He was to die
Saturday – SHARE
Share where Jesus has shown that HE is remains in YOU
Sunday – Connect to Jesus through worship, word, His supper and fellowship with other Christians
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