May 16, 2010: Ascension of the Lord

How do we get to know Jesus? In prayer!

Jesus said to the apostles, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. (Acts 1:8-9)

As we come to the final week of the Easter season, we read in the Acts of the Apostles about the return of Jesus to heaven. We call this event his Ascension. He returned to God from whom he came. He instructs the apostles to continue his work, to be his witnesses in the world in which they lived almost 2000 years ago. He promised that the Holy Spirit would give them the power to do the witnessing. Every Christian has the power of the Holy Spirit to continue Jesus’ work in the world. The world is very different today from the time of the apostles. But the work has not changed. We are called to live as Jesus teaches us through the Scriptures and through our lives to be his witnesses.

Action:

We have not seen Jesus with our eyes but we know him in our hearts. We know Jesus personally. How do we get to know Jesus? In prayer! We can know about Jesus through the Scriptures and people telling us about him, but we each know him personally by spending time with him in prayer. Do you pray? Speak with him from your heart. Do it today.