June 20, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory. I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations.” (Isaiah 66.18-19)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD TO US:

This is how Luke begins part two of his gospel concerning Jesus of Nazareth who is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God who lived, served and died for the salvation of the world from the power of sin and death: “And you shall be My witnesses….” (Acts 1.8) Where “The Gospel of Luke” is a testimony to Theophilus, a singular individual or a collective title for all those who believe in Christ or are seeking to know Jesus as the Christ, the “Acts of the Apostles” is a testimony to the formation of the early Church following the ministries of the apostles; in specific: Paul and Peter. Luke begins in Acts where Matthew concluded in his gospel: the endowment of the Holy Spirit as the comforter, enabler and sustainer of commissioned to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Some scholars will contend that Jesus had chosen twelve men to be His disciples with purpose and structure in mind as it would relate to the nation of Israel. In specific, I am speaking of “the twelve tribes of Israel.” Of course, in the days of Jesus, those tribes were more of a historical remembrance than an actual reality. By that I mean, the “Northern Kingdom,” which once bore the name Israel, was made up of ten of the twelve tribes. The “Southern Kingdom,” which was called Judah, represented the two remaining tribes. However, in the exile, it was the Northern Kingdom which was impacted more directly by the invading enculturation and intermarriage of foreign nations. In the midst of that was Samaria which bore the brunt of those who were deemed less than Jewish because of their independent beliefs. What’s in a name, right? I mention this because the first “ministry” of the apostles, according to the testimony of Luke as to the message of “The Great Commission,” was to “go into all the world beginning with Jerusalem, then Judea (Judah), Samaria and the rest.” The purpose was to be “HIS” witnesses and to bring about the reconciliation of all people to God through the forgiveness of sins and sound teaching on the call to live in righteousness. The Apostle Paul, and at first especially Peter, ministered first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. The reconciliation of the nation of Israel (the united kingdoms of north and south as in the days of King David) was the primary purpose. Why? Because Israel was created and called to be a light to the nations, a testimony of God’s goodness, mercy and grace. The corruption of that call came in the human desire, especially by the priestly caste who influenced the kings, to make of all nations Jews. They misunderstood the “rules of righteousness” which made them God’s witnesses to be the confines for all believers. That was not what God intended. God had a different purpose for other believers. While they would have a testimony, it was not to “evangelize the world” but to live in peace with one another. This is where we left off yesterday in verse 17.

As we come into verses 18 and 19, I would turn your attention to Revelation 14 (and chapter 5, also) and the identification of the 144,000. Just as the twelve tribe/twelve disciples identity has a varied interpretation, so, too, does the 144,000 (which arises mostly in the translation of chapter 5). In Revelation 14, it is more clear that this group of sanctified, set apart for the purposes of God, community of 144,000 people was to “bear witness to the nations.” Could it represent 12,000 people from each of the 12 tribes? Perhaps. More likely, the 12 x 12 x 1000 (the number in a Roman legion during the days of the early Church until the end of Constantine’s reign in 337 A.D.) is what John saw in his vision that would relate most easily to the members of the Seven Churches in Asia Minor. God rarely speaks outside of the human experience for the purposes of teaching. This 144,000 group was meant for the teaching and instruction which culminated in a discernment of who would believe that Jesus is the Christ. It is not a Jewish nor Gentile grouping but rather witnesses of the Gospel of Christ. Perhaps they were those set apart in martyrdom. Regardless, their purpose was to go into all the world and bear the “final witness.” When their work is completed, then the end would be upon all the world. Imagine the day when there will be not one person who would confess Jesus as Lord. What an impetus and encouragement to the Church to continue its missionary work. I am not speaking merely of the benevolence ministries. Rather, I am speaking of the evangelistic ministries of making disciples in every nation. The intention is to make disciples of all nation/nationalities. God does not will the death of anyone. His patience, as Peter wrote in 2 Peter, was to give opportunity for all to believe. Even God knows the day will come when no one “else” will believe. That would be the “end of the Age” as Matthew records the conclusion of Jesus’ commissioning (Matthew 28.20.)

This is what Isaiah saw and declared to be the purpose of Israel. They were not merely to exist and survive to live another day. They were called to minister to the whole earth including the people who on earth did dwell and would dwell. That purpose is given to the Church as well. Is it our purpose? Is it your purpose?

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works leading others to call Jesus Lord in faith, hope and love. AMEN.