Transformational Tip
Did Jesus really die on the cross for my sins? How about come back to life? Then ascend into heaven? These all seem literally unbelievable. Yet here is one reason why I believe them to be true.
From that first Easter Sunday till now, the world is radically different and the spread of Christianity and it’s impact is profound. Our calendar is based on Christ, the Bible is still the best seller every year by landslide. We use God’s name in everyday language to curse things(I am not advocating) or bless them.
Mission Impossible: Change the world by starting with an “illegitimate” birth to teenage parents in an animal stable in a manger….. in a small occupied outpost of the Roman Empire to a conquered, poor, and rejected people. A socioeconomically lowly carpenter, uneducated, would then pick 12 odd, relative marginal guys from societal standards, and wander around a nowhere land, teaching in the hills and a very small geographic area in the Middle East. Jesus’ 12 disciples didn’t even get most of the stuff He was teaching and had a hard time applying it as they were still fighting about who Jesus loved the most and who would be at His right hand when He overpowered the ruling powers.
For this Impossible Mission to succeed from this meager beginning, something miraculous had to occur 2000 some years ago because, that day after Christ’s death on the Cross the future seemed pretty bleak for the band of 12 disciples and their immediate circle. They were afraid they could be the next to be executed and their leader was humiliatingly and convincingly defeated without a fight.
Only His resurrection and ascension to heaven could ignite, clarify, focus, and convince, this unlikely group of now revolutionary generals/church leaders to engineer the true kingdom revolution that continues today.
Do you believe in miracles? We are no different than the disciples and Mary Magdalene and the rest. God could do the impossible without us, but through His love for us, He longs to include us in doing the impossible. Make yourself available to be part of the impossble and exciting missions God has for you. Don’t be afraid or limit yourself or God. He is amazing as we have seen these last 2000 years from that Saturday after Jesus’ death.
Prayer
Dear Father, you are so powerful and loving. Thanks for wanting to work with and through us to carry out your plans. I confess I often have my eyes on my agenda, my will, and not yours and miss out on opportunities to have a front row seat and be part of the miracles you are performing or have to abort because of me. Please grow my faith and belief in the impossible and trust you when you don’t perform miracles, that your will and timeline are perfect and mine aren’t. In Jesus’ Holy name and through His miraculous work, AMEN.
The Truth
4 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;
5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
8 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.”
Acts 1:4-8
1 Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!
3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
4 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!
5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
Psalm 105:1-5