Thursday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 1:9-11
9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As 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!”
9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As 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!”
Commentary:
1:9 Elsewhere in Scripture a cloud is often associated with a manifestation of God’s presence (Luke 9:28–36). This was not an ordinary rain cloud but the cloud of glory that surrounds the very presence of God. as they were looking on, he was lifted up. This visible ascension of Jesus into heaven indicates that Jesus retains a physical human body, as a man, though he is exalted to the right hand of God, i.e., given direct executive rule in God’s spiritual kingdom (Matt. 28:18). When coupled with Acts 1:11, it also indicates that he will someday return in the same physical body. The amazing miracle of the incarnation is not only that the eternal Son of God took human nature on himself and became a person who is simultaneously God and man, but also that he will remain both fully God and fully man forever.
1:10 The pair of “men” were angels in human form, as their white robes attest (see Matt. 28:3; Luke 24:4; John 20:12).
1:11 will come in the same way as you saw him go. Jesus’ return, like his ascension, will be bodily and visible.
1:10 The pair of “men” were angels in human form, as their white robes attest (see Matt. 28:3; Luke 24:4; John 20:12).
1:11 will come in the same way as you saw him go. Jesus’ return, like his ascension, will be bodily and visible.
Questions:
- After Jesus ascends into heaven, two messengers from God tell them that one day Jesus will return the same way he left. We tend to remember Jesus as he was humiliated and suffered and died. But that was the past. Right now he is enthroned at the right hand of the Father. Presently he rules and reigns with eyes like fire with a sword coming out of his mouth (Rev. 1). And he will return one day, personally, visibly and supernaturally from the clouds. He will return as King and judge all of us for the life we lived. How often do you think about his return? How might living with this end in mind affect the way we live our lives?
- Knowing that Christ WILL return one day and make all things right should be a big deal to us. It is the hope that we have that began when Jesus was raised from the dead, forever defeating sin, death and pain. We can live this life knowing that no matter how bad things get, no matter what we go through or have to endure, it's only for a little while. We are on HIS team, and he wins. PERIOD. How would living with this truth in mind affect your attitudes each day? Might it alter your decisions?
Pray:
- That you would always live like you know he's coming back.
- That you would remember that you're on the winning team.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
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