Devotional Reading:
Luke 24:46-49
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Devotional Question:
Have you been made able to understand? Jesus instructs us to proclaim what he has done! Is the greatest proclamation ever within a kingdom the crowning of a new king? Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death - this is the good news of the Kingdom of God! What was the promise of the Father?
Devotional Reading:
Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
[The Ascension] So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed 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 and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on,he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Devotional Question:
How did Jesus' Kingdom come to stay on earth with his children? The disciples wanted the kingdom of Israel - but God gave them an even better gift! Consider what John reports:
Revelation 5:10
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Did You Know?
This is the final devotional to be written for this blog - but there is much more to learn about God's kingdom! Please take some time to read God's Word and ask him to teach you more about how he first loved us!
