April 17 2021 (Saturday)
We have been on journeys with Christ in these blogs. On February 17 we recognized Ash Wednesday, although Baptists do not generally observe the day. We are one with the spirit and objectives of the entire Lenten and Easter seasons, because we believe in rededication of our lives, loving the Lord and serving Him, and sacrificing things if necessary.
After blogs about the Christian life, including a study of The Ten Commandments, we followed Jesus and His disciples as they journeyed to Jerusalem for that final week of His earthly sojourn as our Savior. Holy Week followed and we wrote about it, especially the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Christ. After that, we wrote about eleven appearances of Christ during the forty days following His resurrection, and His ascension to Heaven, leaving with us a commission to go everywhere as His witnesses.
What next?
We find our answers to “What did the Believers in Jesus do next?” in the Book of Acts, the second Bible Book inspired by the Spirit and authored by “the Beloved Physician, Luke.” Here is a broad, general outline of the Book of Acts: 1.Their witness in Jerusalem (Acts 1:1-8:3) 2. Their witness in Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:4-12:25) 3. Their witness to the end of the earth (Acts 13:1-28:30-31). *
One hundred twenty of His followers, including the Apostles, gathered together to pray, because just before He ascended on high that’s what Jesus told them to do. During that time they chose a successor to Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed Christ and committed suicide. They prayed for the power that Jesus had promised, and on the Day of Pentecost, that power, through the Holy Spirit, fell on them as tongues of fire appeared on their heads and they proclaimed the gospel in other languages, the day culminating with a great sermon by Simon Peter and professions of faith and baptisms of 3000 people. Many of those people were from other lands and they would share the gospel of Christ when they went back to their homelands. And so began the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The church continued to grow, the people continued their witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and in foreign lands. The word was shared that Jesus Christ was alive and able to save to the uttermost all people who believed in Him as the Son of God and the Savior of the World. The Book of Acts, beginning at Jerusalem and closing at Rome, chronicles that growth.
But there’s more
History tells us what happened after the events described in the Book of Acts. Throughout these 2000 years since New Testament days, the Kingdom of God in the hearts of Believers in Jesus, has spread throughout the world. Right up to the present hour, as you and I have become a part of something much greater than ourselves. Millions of people in this troubled world know that Jesus is the answer to all our problems, if we follow Him sincerely, living by love as He commanded. May the Lord help us to do so, as we surrender our lives to Him.
HERE I AM, LORD
Words: Daniel L. Schutte
Music: Anna Laura Page
1979
[Verse 1]
I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save
[Chorus]
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart
[Verse 2]
I, who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
I, the Lord of snow and rain
I have borne my people’s pain
I have wept for love of them
They turn away
[Chorus]
[Verse 4]
I will break their hearts of stone
Give them hearts for love alone
I will speak my words to them
Whom shall I send?
[Chorus]
[Verse 5]
I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save
[Chorus]
[Verse 6]
Finest bread I will provide
‘Til their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life to them
Whom shall I send?
[Chorus]