WINNING THE FAMILY FOR CHRIST (Acts 10:1-6)
Hello Saint, it’s been a while, since you last received some devotional reading from me.
The Very. Rev. Michael Mukhwana
Today I have bounced back with something on witnessing to the family. Before ascending to heaven to be with the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ after His resurrection, reminded the disciples of their unique responsibility, he said, “…But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Jesus promised the disciples that they would receive power to witness after they received the Holy Spirit. Power from the Holy Spirit is not limited to strength beyond the ordinary – that power also involves courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority. The disciples would need all these gifts to fulfill their mission. Notice the progression: (1) they would receive the Holy Spirit, (2) He would give them power, (3) they would witness with extraordinary results. Often we try to reverse the order and witness by our own power and authority. Witnessing is not showing what we can do for God. It is showing what God has done for us.
This verse describes a series of ever-widening circles. The gospel was to spread, geographically, from Jerusalem, into Judea and Samaria, and finally the whole world. It would begin with the devout Jews in Jerusalem and Samaria, spread to the mixed race in Samaria, and finally be offered to the Gentiles in the uttermost parts of the earth. This implies that God’s gospel has not reached its final destination if someone in your family, your workplace, your school, or your community hasn’t heard about Jesus Christ. As a believer you have to make sure that you are contributing in some way to the ever-widening circle of God’s loving message, and it has to begin with your family – whether it’s your spouse, parents, siblings, children, plus other immediate relatives.
This is certainly not going to be an easy task, because your family members perhaps are more aware of your weaknesses than anybody else, and so it can be an intimidating task sharing Christ with them. This should not be an excuse, however, because it is in our imperfection that we are called to witness, with the conviction that the Holy Spirit will give us extraordinary results.
One only needs to watch their life as they hold out the Word of Truth (1Timothy 4:12,16).
The fathers in particular, should intentionally and prayerfully covenant their families to the Lord, as Joshua (Joshua 24:14,15), Cornelius, Lydia (Acts 16:14,15) and the Jailer (Acts 16:30-33) did; but this will require that we live uprightly before our own families. A blessed week!
The Very Rev. Canon Michael Mukhwana
PROVOST