After the resurrection Jesus appeared in the flesh to his disciples and spoke about the kingdom of God. Many people saw him and heard from him, even appearing to more than five hundred people at once.

But one encounter laid the groundwork for his disciples and all who followed after. In front of a group numbering around two dozen, Jesus responded to a question about the restoration of Israel. The disciples remained focused locally, but Jesus raised their eyes to the world.

He told them, It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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.

More of a promise than a command, Jesus told of the coming Holy Spirit and the subsequent spread of his message. The results? A few dozen believers in Jerusalem has now grown to billions all over the world. What launched then is still going strong, a two thousand year old enterprise founded by the words of a man returned from the dead.

Who wouldn’t want to hear that story?

Acts 1:6-8

Photo by John Cafazza

In college I took several semesters of German. I got pretty good, reading short articles and speaking coherent sentences. I even practiced my language skills one summer in Europe. Today, that ability has faded, although I did order coffee from a German speaking waitress in Italy last month. You might say that my German has passed away.

I’ve spoken to student groups and churches hundreds of times, and led just as many small group Bible studies. While someone might remember something I said, there’s no treasured compendium of my lectures.

An estimated 250 million books have been published throughout history. I’ve added two to that number, and hope to add a couple more. With all that material, who knows if anyone beyond my circle of friends will notice? Except for a few notable exceptions, even popular titles age out and fade away.

Do any words stand the test of time? Yes—those from the mouth of Jesus. In fact he told his disciples, Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

The teachings of Jesus continue to motivate and change people for the good. The best-selling and most distributed book of all time is the Bible. Nothing else is even close. Something about the messages in that book keep people intrigued, generation after generation.

Of all the words I experience in our cacophonous world, scarcely any last beyond a breath. Like my German, a handful linger in the recesses of my mind. But when I invest a few minutes every day in the words of Jesus—solid, eternal, life-giving words—I know I’m connecting with words worth my time.

Luke 21:33

Photo by Noah Black

A visit from an angel spurred Gideon to action. Along with several servants, he pulled down an alter to Baal and chopped up an Asherah pole (an idol to a fertility goddess) and set it the whole lot on fire. Then he sacrificed a bull on the pyre. The next day his neighbors went ballistic.

Showing how far these men of Israel had fallen away from the Lord, they demanded Gideon’s death for the desecration. But Joash, Gideon’s father, craftily responded,Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him?…If he is a god, let him contend for himself.

Joash pointed out that if Baal were truly a god, then Baal could handle a mere mortal. If Baal was not a god, then Gideon was right to destroy a worthless alter to a make-believe diety. As a result of his actions Gideon was given a new name—Jerubbaal—which means let Baal contend with him. As you might expect, Baal failed to show, and Gideon went on to deliver Israel from her enemies.

I’m reminded of the gods I allow to dominate my thinking. Money, prestige, pleasures, and entertainment compete for attention. Secular philosophies and world religions present as viable alternatives. Yet all their promises prove empty, holding power only if I let them.

Like Gideon, identity your counterfeit gods and lay into them with an ax. They can fight for themselves. Then, trust the Lord to fight in their place.

Judges 6:25-32

Photo by Christian Kielberg

Year ago David wrote: The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply. This truth plays out over and over.

I read every day of the churning anger over sexuality, politics, wealth disparities, and environmental degradations. Many place their ultimate hope in campaigning for such causes. Of course, all these issues are important and need attention. But none should become my god. Placing them at the core of life leads only mushrooming sorrows.

A superior way exists. David turns to the Lord in praise: You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

We can allow the gods of this world to rollercoaster our lives toward a miserable end. Or, we can go after the Lord and experience his gift of joy. The decision is ours—we choose which way to run.

Psalm 16:2&11

Photo by Aleksandra Sapozhnikova