2/16/10

Time to go

There is a time to go; it may involve work, school, a date or just life in general. At some time preparation is ended and its time to go. Jesus had spent years with the twelve; they had been trained; Jesus was about to ascend to the father and now it was time to go.

Mat 28:16-20
(16) The eleven disciples went to the mountain in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go.
(17) When they saw him, they bowed down in worship, though some had doubts.
(18) When Jesus came near, he spoke to them. He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
(19) So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
(20) Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. "And remember that I am always with you until the end of time."

Discipleship isn't something you do, its something you are and while you are you, you do it. Remember what you did when you decided to follow Christ; keep doing it. Don't stop, continue being the new you that the Christ of God has made and as you "are" so will the others around you "be"; its called discipleship. Well, that's all I really had to say.... time to go!

What's next.....

OK, its just a nursing baby getting its nails cut, but look at that baby's eye. Its obviously concerned to say the least. At first I thought this may have been the first time nail cutting, but judging by the amount of hair on the baby's head, that's probably not true. The phrase "what's next?" comes to mind. The Apostles had seen Jesus ascend to heaven then chosen a replacement apostle (with God's help) and then the following happens.

Acts 2:1-21 WEB (R)
(1) Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.
(2) Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
(3) Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.
(4) They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
(5) Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.
(6) When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
(7) They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Behold, aren't all these who speak Galileans?
(8) How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?
(9) Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,
(10) Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
(11) Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!"
(12) They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, "What does this mean?"
(13) Others, mocking, said, "They are filled with new wine."
(14) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, "You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
(15) For these aren't drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.
(16) But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
(17) 'It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.
(18) Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
(19) I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
(20) The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
(21) It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

A miracle; nothing less than a miracle. But, one predicted by the prophet Joel. Exactly how this happened pales in importance to the fact that it did happen. God testified by HIS SPIRIT and a door was opened for those who desired to be saved. What's next? Read the rest of Acts chapter two in order to find out......