Acts 1:1-2 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

The word that stands out to me in this is “began.” In all probability Luke researched and wrote the Gospel that bears his name while Paul was in prison in Caesarea, (Acts 23-26) and then Acts while Paul was in prison in Rome. (Acts 28) Traveling with Paul extensively, he had seen and heard a great deal that he could only characterize as Jesus continuing to act and teach, by the Holy Spirit through those who believed in Him. That is an extremely important point. When we think we have to do God’s works for Him, we get discouraged and give up. When we think we can do God’s works for Him, we get conceited. The Biblical reality is that Jesus can and wants to work through us, if we will yield ourselves to Him in active faith. Anyone who is actively following Christ is constantly confronted with situations they know they can’t handle on their own. The glory of the Gospel is that we don’t have to do it on our own; Jesus will do it through us by His Spirit. (Colossians 1:27) It is when we really understand this and yield ourselves to Him for this purpose that we become His ambassadors indeed. (2 Corinthians 5:20) When that happens there is no room for pride, because we know full well that we don’t accomplish things, Jesus does it in and through us, so our response is gratitude and praise.

This is something I have been growing into over the years. I first learned 2 Corinthians 5:20 as a young boy in a Baptist children’s group called Royal Ambassadors. I only got to participate once a year, when the Japan Baptist Mission gathered for their annual meeting, but I did get that verse memorized. However, the implications of it were slow to take root in me. Having grown up in a missionary family I didn’t think it strange that God would act and speak through people, but I didn’t press in to Him for that to happen in my case. I thought I could do pretty well on my own! God very graciously let me know how absurd that thinking was, and I have slowly relaxed to let Him work through me. That’s not at all to say that my effort isn’t involved; laziness has been another problem for me. I have to be as active as He tells me to be, without complaining about it, but not go doing things on my own, or feeling guilty to be resting if that is what He directs. As a pastor, it is a growing passion in me to help the believers understand that God wants this lifestyle as much for them as for me, and that it is just as possible, because the power is in Him and not in us. I deal with so many people who disqualify themselves in their minds as being unworthy/unable to be God’s ambassadors, but that just shows they’re still focusing on themselves instead of on Christ. As Paul said, we’re nothing more than earthenware pots; the power, the glory, is Christ in us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Father, thank You for continuing to give me direction for the book You’re telling me to write. Thank You that I’m not supposed to write it all right now! Help me be faithful and exercise the necessary discipline to get that job, and each job You assign to me, done, on Your schedule and by Your wisdom, power, and anointing, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!