Philippians 3:20-21

²⁰But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Reflection: God’s plan for humankind on earth is not over yet. Jesus’ power on earth did not end when He ascended into heaven.  Jesus now sits at the right hand of God and one day, He will return.  And when He returns, the power which He has to bring everything under His control will be the power that takes our weak and mortal bodies and changes them to be like His new and glorious body.

Responding to the Transmitted Message: Today are we eagerly awaiting our Savior’s return?  Or are we getting overwhelmed by the daily grind of life?  Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus today.  Pray that God will help you see His great plan for His people on earth.  Pray that God will fill you with the hope of His return.  Be encouraged that even now, we are citizens of heaven living here on earth.

Luke 24:50-53

⁵⁰When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. ⁵²Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ⁵³And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

Reflection: In Shakespeare’s play, Juliet tells Romeo that “Parting is such sweet sorrow”.  She has met the one she loves and does not want to part from him, even for a night.  In complete contrast, we read in Luke that when Jesus leaves the disciples, they WORSHIP, they have GREAT JOY, and they continually PRAISE God.  Unlike the earthly love story of Romeo and Juliet, the story of the disciples does not end with tragedy.

Responding to the Transmitted Message: When Jesus leaves and ascends to heaven, He gives us nothing less than His blessing.  He has promised and has in fact given us His Spirit and His power, which we can respond to today in worship, joy and praise.  Spend time thanking God for not leaving us in sorrow, but for giving us His presence and power through the Spirit.

Acts 1:7-11

⁷He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But 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.”

⁹After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

¹⁰They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Reflection: Sometimes we just can’t believe our eyes.  We know we’ve seen something but our brain tells us it couldn’t possibly be.  Maybe we do a double-take.  Maybe we rub our eyes.  Maybe we tell someone to punch us just to make sure we’re awake.  In this passage, the disciples watch as Jesus ascends into heaven.  What an awesome sight it must have been.  The disciples just keep on staring, perhaps they’re waiting to see what would happen next.  Angels suddenly appear to help them along.  They confirm Jesus’ ascension and tell them that He indeed will come back.

Responding to the Transmitted Message: Through prayer and the Holy Spirit, let God affirm to you today what He has done and is doing.  He sent His Son, who died on the cross and resurrected, who conquered sin and death forever, and who ascended to heaven and is now working to build His church for mission and service.  Thank God for giving us faith and grace to believe.

Ephesians 4:14-16

¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Reflection: Babies can be very cute and sweet but they require a lot of care.  New parents can testify of sleepless nights and endless diaper-changing.  Unable to do anything for themselves, babies rely on others for their every need.  God’s design is that we would not remain as infants forever.  This applies to us both physically and spiritually.  When Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, He gave gifts to His people so that His church, His new body, would grow and be built up in love.

Responding to the Transmitted Message: We are not meant to remain as infants in our spiritual life, wavering back and forth, unsure and uncertain of the truth.  Let’s pray and ask today that God will grow our churches through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Pray that we will be built up in love, that each part would do its work.  Pray for increased transformation in our lives that would lead to real Christian maturity.

Ephesians 4:7-13

⁷But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men.” ⁹(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? ¹⁰He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) ¹¹It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹²to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Reflection: Birthdays.  Christmas.  Anniversaries.  Graduation.  These are special moments we celebrate with those we love.  They are happy occasions that usually involve giving or receiving gifts.  And most of us would agree that gifts are good things.  This passage in Ephesians describes a most extraordinary moment– when Christ ascended into heaven and filled the whole universe.  As the risen and ascended Lord, He then gives special gifts to those He loves.  They are lasting gifts that will build up His people, His church.

Responding to the Transmitted Message: As part of His church, God has given each of us gifts through the Holy Spirit.  This is how He builds up His church for mission and service.  Pray that you will believe and live out the calling God has given you.  Pray that you will fully take part in the mission and service that God wants to do through His church, on your campus, in your missional group.