Equipped

"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.”
Acts 1:8 (NIV)

What if the most important assignment in history was handed to the most unlikely group of people?

That's exactly what happens in Acts 1:8. Jesus is about to ascend to heaven, and the people in front of Him are fishermen, farmers, and a tax collector nobody trusted. Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times. Thomas refused to believe until he could physically touch Jesus’ scars. These are not the people you would recruit for a world-changing mission.

And yet Jesus looks at every one of them and says, "You will be my witnesses." Not "you might be." Not "you could be." But “you will be.” Jesus speaks to his disciples with complete certainty before a single one of them has done anything to deserve it. And these words weren't addressed to a title or an office. They were addressed to followers. If that's what you are, they're addressed to you.

So what does that actually mean? A witness isn't a preacher or salesperson. A witness just says what they saw. You're just telling what you personally experienced. 

You have a story. What did you feel was lacking in your life before you met Jesus? What has happened after? How has his forgiveness impacted you? 

The first part of today’s verse also promises that you aren’t telling this story on your own. The Holy Spirit inside you is already equipping you to share it.

Think of one person who needs to hear your story. Just your honest before and after. Text them today.

Jesus doesn’t choose the qualified. He qualifies the chosen.

Prayer: Lord, the One who made my mouth and who’s given me a story to tell, I confess I doubt whether my story is worth telling. But you’ve called me to be a witness to what I’ve seen and heard. Today I'm trusting that Your Spirit will give me the words. Show me who to reach and give me the courage to actually do it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.