Jesus said,
“But you shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts
1:8)
Perspective. It’s sometimes defined as a “point of view” or “frame of
reference”. It has to do with how we see. Sometimes it has to do with how far
we see. As I read the New Testament, I am impressed by a recurring theme. God
wants me to see beyond myself. God wants me to lift up my eyes and enlarge my
vision.
Remember how Jesus redefined neighborhood boundaries. When asked, “Who
is my neighbor?” Jesus told a story about a “good neighbor” who was a
Samaritan. That must have been an unexpected detail to those who were
listening. Just prior to His ascension to heaven Jesus instructed His disciples
to engage in the global mission of God. First, Jesus promised his followers
that the Holy Spirit would provide power. After the promise of power, Jesus
clarified the purpose. The mission has not changed. Neither has our dependence
upon the Holy Spirit to empower us to be credible witnesses for Jesus
diminished. Finally, when Jesus presented the scope of the mission, it’s a
reminder that God’s view is limitless. God sees the end of the earth more
easily than I can see the end of my nose. The presence of the Holy Spirit in
our lives compels us to see differently and prevents us from exempting anyone
from the reach of the Gospel.
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