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By Mike Caton

Acts 1:7-8, “He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”

Thinking about it this morning, I wonder if the disciples thought Jesus’ three days in the tomb was the time he had spoken about going where they could not follow. Did they realize he was going to ascend back into heaven? Could they even imagine him being gone for as long as he has been? But Jesus gives them a basic and a hard truth that men have struggled with ever since. It is not for us to know the times or the dates the Father has set. Folks have been searching for the date of Jesus’ return since early in church history. And they have even gone so far as to set dates, time and time again. And, time and time again, they have been proven wrong.

Jesus tells us this is simply not for us to know or to worry about. We are to concentrate on the job he has given to us, to the church. We are to be his witnesses; in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. It has often been pointed out that that means we start where we are, the disciples were in Jerusalem. And wherever you are right now is your Jerusalem; simply realize that where you are right now is the place God wants you to start; your home, your office, your town, your ballfield, wherever you are. And then you are to reach out to the surrounding areas, Judea and Samaria. And finally you have a responsibility to share the good news about Jesus to the ends of the world. It’s like the rings on a bullseye target, you start in the middle and work your way out. Clearly you will have more opportunities in some areas than others, but you cannot neglect any of them.

And God has provided the Holy Spirit to empower us. The apostles will receive a miraculous outpouring from God, and be able to do things that we cannot do. But we don’t need to do the things the apostles did. Because God has provided resources for us that they didn’t have. But each Christians receives the gift of the Holy Spirit at their baptism. And he guides and strengthens us to do the things the Lord wants us to do.

It is not our place to know the times and dates, it is our place to be a witness.

Father, help me tell others about Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works as a full time AEMT with Hyde County EMS. Follow Mount Olive Church of Christ on Facebook for daily devotions.

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