DAY 4: HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE
Read Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 2:14-15.
In Day 2 of this week’s devotional, it was stated that the early disciples were commanded to make disciples everywhere they went. In today’s Acts passage, we see the extent to which they would make disciples. Beginning in Jerusalem, discipleship would occur in their home town. Later, it would stretch into the surrounding cities of Judea. Later still, disciplemaking would occur in areas that were beginning to get uncomfortable. The Samaritans were not well-liked. Tensions between the Jews and the Samaritans were high at the time. Making disciples in towns like this would certainly be a challenge for the early disciples from Jerusalem. And if that wasn’t enough, they would venture into lands that were completely foreign to them. Clearly, Jesus wanted discipleship to be a worldwide affair.
Let me make an observation here. In today’s passage, Jesus says that his disciples will be His witnesses essentially throughout the world. It is interesting that Jesus doesn’t command them to go to these uttermost places. He says “you will be my witnesses…” Some commentators have noted that Jesus was telling them what would happen, not telling what to do. Taken this way, everywhere they went, a testimony of Christ would be left behind. And to that the question must be raised: What kind of testimony would they leave?
To Consider
We are all witnesses of Christ everywhere we go. Our challenge is to leave the fragrance of Christ, and be a positive witness for Him. Consider what fragrance you are imparting wherever you go – your work, home, when you go out to dinner, when you meet strangers, etc.
If Jerusalem represented your home, what kind of witness are you there? If Judea represented your place of work, what kind of witness are you there? What represents your Samaria and ends of earth in your life?
