Daily Devotionals

Keep the Story Going

Posted in Evangelism

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)  “Jesus came and told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:18-20) 

 

Below is an excerpt from Lifestyle Evangelism* by Joe Aldrich, and it sums up beautifully what is expected of us even today. As we speed away from Resurrection Sunday please know that Christ intends for us to keep the story going. We must share with others about what He has done for them.

 

There is a legend which recounts the return of Jesus to glory after His time on earth. Even in heaven He bore the marks of His earthly pilgrimage with its cruel cross and shameful death.  The angel Gabriel approached Him and said, “Master, You must have suffered terribly for men down there.”

 

“I did,” He said.

 

“And,” continued Gabriel, “do they know all about how You loved them and what You did for them?”

 

“Oh, no,” said Jesus, “not yet. Right now only a handful of people in Palestine know.”

 

Gabriel was perplexed. “Then what have You done,” he asked, “to let everyone know about Your love for them?”

 

Jesus said, “I’ve asked Peter, James, John and a few more friends to tell other people about Me. Those who are told will in turn tell still other people about Me, and My story will be spread to the farthest reaches of the globe. Ultimately, all of mankind will have heard about My life and what I have done.”

 

Gabriel frowned and looked rather skeptical. He knew well what poor stuff men were made of. “Yes,” he said, “but what if Peter and James and John grow weary? What if people who come after them forget? What if way down in the twenty-first century, people just don’t tell others about You? Haven’t You made any other plans?”

 

And Jesus answered, “I haven”t made any other plans. I’m counting on them.”

 

 

PRAYER:  God, please impress upon us daily of our duty to you, so that our tasks may be focused on your will and not ours. Amen.  

 

Submitted by Myles Burns

 

*Aldrich, Joe.  “Lifestyle Evangelism,” 2006.