Daily Devotional for July 13

 

July 13                                                               Luke 24:36-53

Luke's report in today's Gospel passage is not just one more
retelling of the resurrection story, for he recounts here the
commissioning of the disciples: "You are witnesses of these
things." They are to preach repentance and the forgiveness
of sins "to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." Such early
universality immediately established a world stage for the
spread of the Gospel.

Are we able to comprehend our purpose as Christians in such
broad dimensions? Are we in fact witnesses to Christ, or mere
appendages of a respectable institution called "the church"?
Do we accept a world mission, or are we comfortable with
casual conformity to familiar ideas and ordinary surroundings?
Do we who call ourselves Christian perceive ourselves as a
joyous company sent by Jesus to proclaim to every person on
earth, without exception, the good news of God's uncondi-
tional acceptance and love?

It will take prayerful time and thought to evaluate our rela-
tionship and responsibility to the world as followers of Christ.
Yet it is a necessity in a culture as comfortable as ours, where
God and country, church and country club, Christian and
socialite are often almost indistinguishable.

As living witnesses of Jesus' death and Resurrection, we are
challenged today to discover what the divine encounter with
the risen Christ means for us. If it does not at some point issue
in sharing the Gospel with our world, then we have not heard
all of the good news.

                      Jesus, come in your risen power.
             Let this time of worship be a hallowed hour
   in which your presence calms, instructs, and empowers
                    my spirit to serve and proclaim you
                                    in our world.

​

From The Road to Emmaus - An inclusive devotional Edited by Joseph W. Houle

Emmaus House of Prayer - Washington D.C.