DAY Twenty of Twenty-one "Son of God"

DAY Twenty of Twenty-one "Son of God"

Acts 1:11

11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Acts 1:1-11

1In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach

2until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit.

3During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

4Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.

5John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

7He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.

8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.

10As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.

11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

SORTING IT OUT The last and final chapter of the story of Jesus is yet to come.

After His death on the cross and glorious resurrection, Jesus was taken into heaven. His followers were told that He would someday return “in the same way.” That promise is as true today as it was the day it was made.

Just as God kept His covenant with Abraham, and just as God fulfilled each Old Testament prophecy of a coming Savior, God will keep His promise that Jesus will come again. This isn’t abstraction or metaphor; we serve a truly risen Lord who will truly come again.

Are you ready?

If you looked up at the sky right now and saw Jesus returning, how would you react? Would you run to Him? Run away from Him? Refuse to believe your eyes? Too often, we get so caught up in our everyday lives that we don’t stop to think about this promise. But Jesus is going to return. And every eye shall see Him.

Are you ready? Are you sure? Jesus is waiting for you to reach out to Him, right now.

YOUR TURN Post on Facebook: If Jesus returned today, imagine the social media firestorm. What would you post?

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