May 9, 2022

So when [the apostles] had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
(Acts 1:6-11)
Devotion by Pastor Dave McCarty

Reading the book of Acts is like reading the daily diary of someone experiencing life to the fullest. This book tells stories like: people from all around the world hearing the Gospel message in their own language (2:6); a cowardly fisherman confidently preaching in public and quoting the Old Testament from memory (2:14-36); miraculous healings (3:6); mass baptisms of 3,000 people (2:41) and 5,000 people (4:4); persecution (8:1, 11:19); martyrdom (7:60, 12:2); the Pharisee Saul becoming the Apostle Paul (9:1-19; multiple mission trips (13:4, 16:1, 18:23); prison breaks (12:7, 16:26); and shipwrecks (28:41). 
 
Luke witnessed God’s work in amazing ways and started this book with the best story of all, The Ascension of Jesus. Luke was one of hundreds of people who saw Jesus after this resurrection on Easter morning (500+ according to 1 Corinthians 15:6). I wonder if anyone else was writing down what they saw. If I had been there, I’m not sure how I would have explained this in my daily journal…
Dear Diary, today I saw Jesus again, listened to his short speech, heard something about waiting for a spirit of some sort, and accepted the assignment about being his witness. Then the weirdest thing happened…”  
Death on the cross, followed by hundreds of people seeing him alive and well and then witnessing firsthand the ascension of Jesus, resulted in hundreds of people going forward and sharing the story that would eventually give hope to millions. This is a story that changed the world (and changed me, too!). 
Reflection 
How would you describe the ascension if you had been there?
Prayer 
Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, Faithful Son – I have heard the stories from those who came before me, and I have witnessed your greatness in my family, my church, and your creation. Help me to share the story so others will find peace knowing what you did and why. I pray in the name of the one who was, who is and will be. Amen  
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