Insights

Seniors are often asked about their plans after high school. Repeatedly. They are asked so often that the question becomes almost an accusation.”What are your plans?” But we all have had seasons in life where something is finished and we are left with the question for ourselves, “Where do we go from here?”  In Acts 1:8-11, the disciples feel that change and ask Jesus basically, “Are we there yet?” “Is it time?” Jesus replies that they are about to receive the power from the Holy Spirit. I imagine their thoughts being, “Okay, we are here in Jerusalem. We are ready.” But that is not how Jesus finishes his response. “ …and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea…” Wait, what? Judea!

Judea would have been their first clue that their next thing involved going out and that they were being asked to leave the comfort of the known to go outside Jerusalem. For what? For them to be witnesses. Judea was a bigger area than Jerusalem and at the time under Roman control. Romans were building grand projects and palaces and often with the taxes from the people. The projects were physical representations of Roman control and a very real reminder of the pagan corruption of the promised land. Again, I can almost see the faces of the disciples drop as the realization of what they are being asked to do. “Wait. We are supposed to go out into an area that has corrupt leaders, political unrest and let’s not forget the bandits along the road? The traffic to Jericho is the worst.” Yes, their calling to be witnesses was to expand the kingdom along the dangerous roads, among the corrupt, and those living life in the fast lane.

Jesus calls his disciples to be witnesses in those places beyond the comfortable and known. Here lies the reward too. His disciples will be WITNESSES. They will see God work. They can repeatedly reflect and tell the story of God’s goodness, how He has moved, how He has saved, how He has healed. Witness to the reality of God among the corrupt, the unrests, and the brokeness of the world. Here lies the answer for our next season. When one chapter ends and another begins, we are called  to be witnesses and to move from the comfortable safe space to a world that doesn’t know God’s goodness. What are your plans?  Go and make an impact for Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Be His witness… even in our Judea.

Leah Rabb
Elementary Principal
Logos Preparatory Academy