Acts 1:8 “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.”

This verse has been ingrained in my memory for over 50 years, since I first was exposed to the Charismatic Movement. The Lord brought it to mind to confirm that He had actually baptized me in His Spirit, even though I had felt nothing at the time. However, I think there is still an amazing lack of understanding of this verse in the Church at large. I think we “spiritualize” it too much, thinking in terms of specific manifestations, such as those listed in 1 Corinthians 12, when actually, Jesus was talking about total lifestyle. I’m reminded of the thought-provoking question, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Being Christ’s witnesses is a whole-of-life thing, and not just what happens when you talk with someone – though that is included. If our lives aren’t congruent with the Gospel, our “witnessing” will have no impact, or even have negative impact, convincing our hearers that Christians are just hypocrites. That’s not at all to say that we have to be perfect before we open our mouths. No one is perfect on this earth, with the sole exception of Jesus Himself. We are to humbly acknowledge our weaknesses and failures, and at the same time point people to the One who saves us from them. Those who are genuinely submitted to the Holy Spirit will live that out consistently, despite their occasional lapses. After all, if there is hope for us, there is hope for those with whom we interact.

When I read this just now, it struck me that my wife and I are about to go to “the ends of the earth” from where we have lived for the past 45 years. Americans tend to think of this verse in terms of “foreign missions,” but it applies at any distance. If you aren’t Christ’s witness where you are, “Jerusalem,” there’s no point in your going further. We have certainly been planted in Omura, Nagasaki Prefecture, and now, the Lord is giving us an opportunity to be His witnesses in the US. My wife and I both have the strong feeling that He wants to speak through us to various people we will encounter on this trip. It seems like people have been lining up to want to see us! We must remember that who they really want to see, whether they know it or not, is Christ in us, and so do our best to stay out of the way of that. The people contacting us are of course people we have known before, but we will also encounter many people for the first time. Whoever they are and whatever the reasons for our interaction, we are to be Christ’s witnesses to them, in word and action. We should leave everyone in better shape than when we meet them.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for how everything is falling into place. Help us be sensitive to Your guidance in every detail, in packing and in everything else. Thank You for this training in resting, relaxing, and rejoicing in You! Show us how to submit to You so that we may effectively resist the devil, and specifically, his attacks on our bodies and our emotions. May we walk in all that Christ paid for, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!