POWER FOR WITNESS AND MISSION
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
John 20:21-22 (NIV)
Jesus spoke these words after He was raised from the dead. The disciples were likely still reeling from all that had happened. In fact, many of them remained confused and afraid until Jesus ascended to heaven. They were gathered in a locked room out of fear of Jewish authorities and Roman officials. They were vulnerable and desperately needed reassurance. I wonder, because of the grueling torture of the crucifixion, if the disciples even wanted to be associated with Him anymore. It might have crossed their minds, Is this what’s going to happen to me? Is this what following Jesus looks like? Am I going to have to go through what He went through? I’m not sure I want to sign up for that!
That’s why the idea of Jesus leaving us peace is so powerful and so needed. Quite beautifully, the word peace recalls the Hebrew word shalom, implying wholeness, restoration, and divine blessing, not just absence of conflict. It’s a sense of being settled. Calm in the storm. As they were to carry out the mission of Christ, He promised them they would be protected by the peace of Christ. Having this peace was meant to give them power. And His power turned ordinary lives into vessels of witness. And is still doing so today.
What will be your mission this year? Or maybe a more practical question: What difference is God calling you to make in the church or in someone’s life this year? Or this month? Or even this week? Having courage to say something or do something will be your greatest act of faith.
APPLICATION: Be sensitive to times you feel powerless and purposeless today. Times you feel lost and without direction. In those moments, pause and ask God to refill you with His power and give you clarity about what to do next.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, fill me today. Let Your power be seen in everything I do and say. Use my life to show the world who Jesus is. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?