DAD'S DAILY BREAD

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.” Ac 1:7–8.

I can only imagine what the disciples were going through after watching Jesus be put on the cross, watching Him die and then placing Him in the tomb and then silence… All the thoughts and fears and questions that they had to sit and ponder… Mind you they didn’t have the Holy Spirit at this point. Just relying on their own faith and having to rely on what Jesus told them. But being humans think of all the ways their sinful flesh tried to get into the way and bring them down. Then imagine the happiness and excitement when they saw Jesus again. Getting to spend over 40 days with Him, eating and drinking and getting more and more teaching as He prepared for His departure. Just think of all the questions that would flood your mind…? They wanted to know if this was the time that Christ was going to restore Israel to power and if Christ was going to rule His kingdom on Earth. Christ answered with power and wisdom telling them it is not for them to know and gave them a promise and a commission.

This is so convicting to read and apply to my life. So often am I lost in my thoughts thinking about things that just don’t really matter. Like why did I allow sin to take so much from me before I decided to believe and change. Or why would God allow my father to be taken from me so early. Or how could Christ forgive and restore someone as wretched as me. All these questions are exposing my lack of faith and there rendering me useless. If my sinful flesh can keep me selfishly focused on myself then the enemy wins. Instead of me sitting and wallowing in my past I should be using my testimony for His glory. These verses remind me not to worry about the things I cannot control but by the power of the Holy Spirit I need to remember what is important. It is not about me and what I want or how I feel. I need to be obedient to Christ and follow His instructions. We are to be His witnesses to the entire world.

Witnesses- people who tell the truth about Jesus Christ. The Gr. word means one who dies for their faith. Notice He does not say find a good job and buy a house and take your family on a bunch of vacations… He wants us to tell others about Him. Even if it costs you your life! Spread the Word so that all can be saved and come to know Him. That is what is truly important. Spreading the Gospel to the entire World. We are all sinful people and we all need a Savior! This world does a very good job at twisting the truth and making it hard to keep the main thing the main thing. Is spreading the Gospel the most important thing in your life? I would say yes but then you can look at my life and you would instantly know that I am lying. Lord please help me to change! Use my life and fill me with Your Spirit so I can step out and tell others about You. Allow me to use my testimony for Your glory and to stop selfishly worrying about things in life that just are not important! Making sure my kids have all the stuff they want with the next fresh new outfit will all be meaningless, in the end, if they’re not living for Jesus. I need to be an example to them showing them what is truly important. Do they see my life as one that is focused on work and making money or do they see me focused on God’s Word and making more disciples of Jesus? Lord please forgive me for my lack of faith and all the ways my selfishness and pride get into the way of Your glory! Help me to shrink and Your plan and Your glory be magnified! You are the King and i am not!

APPLICATION:

Stop dwelling on the past. If I catch myself thinking about anything related to the past I need to instantly get into my bible and get my focus back to where it should be. Stay in the Word. Feed myself Gods Word with every meal. Don’t give any room to sinful thoughts. Keep the truth in the forefront of my mind. Use it to filter everything I think, say and do! Focus on sharing God’s Word to my family. This is my mission field! Lead by example! Devote more time to prayer. Set an alarm and pray more! Be Thankful!

IN HIS NAME