Dr. Luke is the author of Acts, a fine historian he,
Traveling
with the Apostle Paul on his ministry journeys.
An
erudite and scholarly man, a doctor by trained profession,
Dr. Luke
was profoundly led after his saving confession.
He first
wrote the Gospel of Christ, the one that bears his name
Recording
the life and works of Him who set the world aflame.
He told
of His birth, His miracles; how His death our sin transcends,
How Jesus
then was raised from the grave, His victory our godsend.
The
record complete, the story told, is there more our Lord would do?
What
remains before He descends this world to judge and renew?
The
answer is found in the Acts account, in history made alive
With
events of valor chronicled there as believers serve and thrive.
When
Christ arose, He showed Himself for a period of forty days
Proving
He was the Risen Lord, setting their hearts ablaze.
He spoke
to them of things to come, of ministry activism,
Of how the
Spirit will empower in prayerful evangelism.
“Do not leave Jerusalem now, wait
for the Spirit’s hour;
You cannot effect salvation grace
working in human power.
John immersed you to signify the
honest repentance you feel;
The Holy Spirit is coming soon to
fill you with power and zeal.”
“Is this the time to declare
yourself King?”
the disciples said earnestly.
They were
filled with earthly plans, thoughts of insurgency.
They were
ready to rule with Christ; had dreams of prestige great,
Unaware
of the price they would pay to change a lost world’s fate.
They
couldn’t do it on their own; no human might is sufficient.
No
preaching ability good enough, no human scheme proficient.
But the
power flowing from the Spirit is equal to the task;
God
empowers His servants well to perform just what He asks.
“You shall be a witness for me in
Jerusalem and every nation.
Boldly proclaiming to all who will
hear the message of salvation.”
Jerusalem,
Judea, Samaria too and all the regions around
Were
transformed with joy and peace by this message profound.
These
first verses inserted here describe it with precision.
Our
journey reveals God’s “good news” in its inspired transmission.
First it
was those within the city, then towns and countryside
Received
the witness of the redeemed, their soul now satisfied.
Never
before and never since has there been such a revolution.
Never
such dramatic change as lost souls found life solution.
Never such opposition was raised from social institutions;
Never
such dreadful hardship and pain through unjust persecution.
All this
and more we will see, I trust I have set the hook,
Open your
Bible and study with me in God’s great textbook.
©
Copyright 2016 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment