Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Commissioning by the Risen Lord
Acts 1:6-11
Daniel Thomas

Orlando MTC., FL
8 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.” 
It is the blessed privilege of a believer to become a witness for Jesus Christ.  The time is so ripe for the world to hear and see the love of Christ shown on the Cross of Calvary to deliver everyone from the burden of sin.  Strange things are happening in the world every day.  We do not need to have special talents, position or possessions to be a witness for Christ.  When we open up our hearts for the Holy Spirit to come in, the Spirit will empower us to become an effective Ambassador for Jesus Christ.
Francis of Assisi was asked by someone how he was able to accomplish so much in his life.  He replied, "This may be why:  The Lord looked down from heaven and said, 'where can I find the weakest, littlest man on earth?'  Then He saw me and said, I have found him.  I will work througth him, and he won't be proud of it.  He will see that I am only using him because of his insignificance."
The Creator of the universe needs us and desires to fit us into His eternal design. He wants us to be a part of the mission He had started while on His earthly ministry. Though all-poweful and not dependent on any creature, He has chosen to spread His love and redemption on earth through the lowly human instruments.  The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus that, "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received" (4:1).  It is important that we heed God's calling by discovering and developing our talents and spiritual gifts, and bear spiritual fruits.
We can see so many examples throughout the Scripture that the least and insignificant ones become important and significant when they heed God's call.  In one of the miracles that we read in John's Gospel chapter 6 - the feeding of five thousand - there were certain people involved in it, without whom the miracle would not have been possible like Philip, Andrew, the little boy, etc.  In fact, this story appears in all Gospels with minor variations.  William Barclay says that "there is a contrast between Philip and Andrew.  Philip was a man who thought that the situation is hopeless and nothing can be done.  Andrew is the one who said, I will see what I can do, and I will trust Jesus to do the rest."
If this world is ever to be won for the Lord, it will have to be done largely through the undistinguished services of the least and simple folks.  We may be sorry and embarrassed that we have nothing big to bring, but that is no reason for failing to bring what we have.  Little is always much in the hands of Christ.

PRAYER

Loving Father, help us to offer ourselves into Your hands, so that we may become an instrument for the service of others around us.  Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
"Lord, make my life a window for Your light to shine through and a mirror to reflect Your love to all I meet."  Robert Schuller

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