Today we are going to meditate on one point of the Great Commission, which continues from yesterday’s topic on “Fruitful Life.”
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” — Acts 1:8
Here, Jesus mentions four places where we are to be His witnesses. But before we look at the places, let’s first understand what it means to be a witness. A witness is not complicated. It’s not like some technical method or technique. Simply put, a witness is someone who reflects and shares what has happened in our life. In other words, it’s what we have been learning from Day 1 until now.
Yesterday, we meditated on “Fruitful Life” from the command to “Go and bear fruit,” and we saw that the fruit refers to the nine characteristics of the Spirit: and today see where to go from the “Go” part the same command
“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” — Galatians 5:22
God asks us to be witnesses in four places. The first is Jerusalem. This does not mean we have to go literally to the city of Jerusalem to preach. Spiritually, Jerusalem represents where God’s presence is, and where His promises are fulfilled.
In the Old Testament, Solomon turned his heart away from God and followed other gods. God decided to take the kingdom away, but He did not remove everything. He left one tribe for Solomon’s son, not because Solomon had been faithful, but for the sake of David, who walked with God, and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city God had chosen (2 Kings 20:6). The glory of God literally dwelt in the Temple in Jerusalem. In the New Testament, we understand that we are the church where God dwells.
When we meditated on the “Fruitful Life” yesterday, we were already preaching the gospel in Jerusalem by living and reflecting God’s fruit in our own lives.
Today, we move to Judea. Let’s go there quickly.
Judea speaks of our family and close relationships. It reminds us that our first responsibility is to reflect Christ at home and to intercede for those closest to us
We know the story of Abraham and Lot. Abraham interceded with God for Lot and Sodom. He pleaded for the city, asking God to spare it if righteous people were found, first fifty, then forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty, and finally ten. Abraham believed that God’s mercy could overcome judgment. But even ten righteous people were not found, and the city was destroyed. Yet God remembered Abraham’s prayer and rescued Lot.
A brother shared an interesting meditation: Lot had a wife and two daughters. If Lot had interceded for his family, raised his daughters in the fear of God, and ensured they married God-fearing men and God-fearing in-laws, he might have reached the ten righteous people needed to save the city (2 + 4 + 4 = 10).
Abraham, however, took a greater responsibility. He interceded for Lot, in another occasion we can see that he had trained 318 trained men, and rescued him.
This story reminds us that it is our responsibility to train everyone in our family, including in-laws, in God’s salvation.
Father God, thank You for choosing me, giving me Your salvation. Help us to live a fruitful life. Teach us to intercede for our family and loved ones, guiding them in Your ways. Fill us with Your Spirit so we can bear fruit, in Jesus name, Amen.