He Ascended into Heaven

“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Acts 1:9 NKJV

On the Thursday ten days before Pentecost it was customary for the church to celebrate this important event – the ascension of Christ into heaven. It was a time for the church to focus on the final command that Christ had given before His ascension and to celebrate the wonderful work Christ does for His Church since His ascension. Just prior to ascending into heaven Christ commissioned the church to be His witnesses in all the world. He commanded them to make disciples and baptize them. He promised that He, with His power and authority as the ascended Christ, would always go with them.

Today the world still waits for us to fulfill that Great Commission given us by Christ. It is estimated that of the nearly seven billion people on earth about half of them have never even heard of Christ. Billions more have heard of Him only as a great teacher or prophet. We have the joy today to still be part of that great cloud of witnesses that will testify to a world dying in sin that there is hope and forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God. 

Almighty God, We thank You that at Christ’s ascension He gave us work to do that can give us joy and bring others hope. Amen. 

The Friday Benediction

Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend.  Amen

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

You may also find some of my selected daily devotions at http://blog.febc.org/

You may also enjoy my new Gospel dog blog, The Gospel According to Molly Blog and my new Alzheimer’s blog, “Taking Care of Joe: An Alzheimer’s Blog” found on my website.