Acts; Continuing the Work

June 11

Read: Acts 1:1-3, Col. 1:18-20

Acts;

Continuing the Work

“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.”- Acts 1:1,2

To be a follower of Jesus Christ is to be chosen to continue the work Jesus started while here on earth. Notice in this opening verse of Acts how it refers to the work that Jesus “began to do and teach”. (v.1) For the author, the gospel of Luke is the first part of what Jesus did and taught, and now the book of Acts is the story of how that same teaching and doing by Jesus is continued on… but now THROUGH HIS PEOPLE. There is no break between what Jesus did and what his followers are doing… it is a continuation of the same work!

Jesus gives his commands “through the Holy Spirit” to his people. This is not only true after the ascension, but before it as well. It has always been the way that he communicated to his followers, through the Spirit. It is interesting to consider how this actually worked out though. We have in the Gospels many examples of Jesus speaking to his people, yet somehow this is “through the Spirit”. Why is this important to note? Because we have the Spirit with us today, and Jesus is still communicating with his people. He has not stopped! The Spirit in us bears witness to what Jesus has said and taught, and it relays to us what Jesus is saying now. (cf. John 16:12,13) In fact, we cannot truly comprehend, grasp, or put into action the words that Jesus speaks to us without The Spirit. (cf. 1 Cor. 2:10-13)  So we know this to be true: Jesus has not stopped speaking to his people, he has not stopped guiding them in what to do, and he is continuing his teaching and his work even to this day through his people.

Those who receive this guidance through the Spirit and this teaching… the ones called to continue what Jesus began while here on earth … are “chosen” by Christ for this mission. Jesus has hand-picked each and every one of his people to continue on in what Jesus started. He has handed the baton to them - and the book of Acts gives us a picture of what that looks like! Jesus is not haphazard in who he draws to himself. I say this to encourage you as his children - you have been known, loved and called by Christ to continue to carry forward the work and teaching of Christ into today. For almost 2000 years now the work of Christ has remained uninterrupted and unbroken as his people have spread throughout the earth. You and I are part of something much larger than we could ever imagine.

I am excited to read through the book of Acts with you all. For today, remember this: You are the body of Christ - his very hands, feet, and proverbial mouth - that carry on HIS work in the here and now. He is speaking to you through the Spirit… he never stopped talking to his people. He has chosen you for this task because you are up to it… in fact, he has MADE YOU into a new creation so that you will be equipped to continue on what he started. The book of Acts will help show us what it looks like to carry on this work. Love you guys. - JDP