How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,
the good news of peace and salvation,
the news that the God of Israel reigns! Isaiah 52:7 (NLT)
Series: Hands and Feet
Last week, in our Hope post, Maryann shared this opening statement, “Over the past six months, we’ve explored God’s gift to all of us: Faith. We have turned the pages through Jesus’ teachings in the Gospels to help us understand what faith is, why we need it, and what it accomplishes.” With this in mind—Now what? What do we do next? Where do we go from here? How do we walk in faith to encourage, empower, ignite passion, and help equip others to find Jesus, our living Hope? How do we put our faith into action? Gratefully, Jesus, after His resurrection, gave clear direction for His disciples.
Jesus, our loving Savior, spoke these words to the disciples as they all gathered together:
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, “you heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts:1:4-5, 8a ESV)
As motivated as the disciples might have been to share the Good News of Christ (especially after witnessing His resurrection), Jesus was clear that they should WAIT. Wait for the promise of His Holy Spirit that would descend upon them. The Spirit would lead, guide, teach, and supernaturally empower them to disciple others with the Gospel. The same goes for us. When we receive Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us. Without His power, we cannot effectively take what we’ve learned and what we have experienced through Christ to others. What a beautiful truth we can hold on to. It isn’t about our ability; it is about HIS ability living and working in us!
While Jesus ministered on Earth, He led by example. His feet walked from town to town, leading Him to those who needed Him. His hands broke bread, healed, and performed countless miracles. His words comforted, blessed, and taught. His life was full of purpose, intentional works, serving, loving and giving, all while He fulfilled prophesy as our Messiah. His work was both finished and unfinished. His work of redemption, forgiveness, and new life for those who believe is finished! His work of ministry and proclaiming is not finished.
We know this because Jesus gave us a command, which we call the Great Commission, in Matthew 28:16-20:
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw Him they worshiped Him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This is where you and I enter our “now what” moments. We are called to be His hands and feet on the earth. We are imperfect, yet made perfect through Him. We are unrighteous, yet made righteous by His finished work. And though, like some disciples, we may doubt our qualifications, or from time to time doubt Jesus; as believers, the Great Commission is still a command we must walk in.
Each one of us has different “hands and feet” moments waiting for action—precious opportunities God has already prepared for us to help another see Jesus more clearly or diffuse a lie they are believing. Not one is more important than another. Jesus’ life is our ultimate model. His love covered a multitude of sin, regret, shame, and unbelief. By pouring from our own grateful hearts we offer the same kindness, mercy, grace and forgiveness that Jesus offered us.
Ladies, let us be the blessing God has commissioned us to be. May we glorify Him through the working of our faith, and may we use all we have learned to express living faith to those around us. May we be the hands and feet of Christ, not for our own recognition, but for the hope that someone who is lost would see Christ. You are sent.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: Isaiah 52:7; Acts 1:4-5, 8a; Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18; 2Corinthians 4:10; Ephesians 2:10