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The apostles were instructed by the best Teacher the world has ever known and witnessed the miracles of Jesus' life as well as His death and resurrection. It had been forty days since Jesus walked victoriously out of the tomb and He was now returning to the loving arms of His Father; but first, Jesus visited with His friends one last time and gave them a charge which would last the rest of their life.

Acts 1:8
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Jesus' death initiated the new covenant agreement between God and man; "this cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you" (Luke 22:20), and on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was made available as a seal for all who would believe and enter into this new covenant relationship. Jesus' final instructions to the apostles were for them to take this message of hope into the mission field.

Jesus defined the mission field as "to the ends of the earth," meaning the extent of the known world (as far as anyone could possibly travel), but He also said to witness "in all Judea and Samaria" (the surrounding area or countries), and "in Jerusalem" (the city where they currently lived). Jesus was saying: wherever you go - whether near or far - be My witness and boldly proclaim the good news; "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant" (2 Corinthians 3:6).

All who truly profess Jesus as Lord and Savior have been sealed with His Spirit and are to be witnesses of the Gospel; "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20). Our mission field will not necessarily be in a foreign land, or populated with people who speak a different language, but it WILL be filled with those who need to hear, see, taste and feel the message of Jesus.

We should praise God for the missionaries in foreign lands. They are accomplishing a vital service and are in need of our prayers and support. But we should also praise God for ALL who faithfully look for the hurting and lonely, who seek out those in need of love and encouragement, who minister the love of Jesus and proclaim His message through all they do - right where they are!

"I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest" (John 4:35). The field is all around us: in our church, our neighborhood, our work place...even in our own family! Let's accept the charge today to be faithful ambassadors and proclaim the good news wherever He leads. Let's boldly step out in faith and enter the mission field!

Copyright 2002, Steve Troxel. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.

About Steve Troxel: Steve Troxel is the President of God's Daily Word Ministries. Steve was trained as an Electrical Engineer and received his PhD in 1994. After working as a researcher in a laser laboratory for several years, Steve felt the call from God to leave his trained profession and enter into full-time ministry. His devotionals are now sent around the world via email as well as distributed in book format. More information about this ministry as will as a "sign-up" page can be found at: http://www.godsdailyword.org

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