Power for the Mission

Scripture Focus: Acts 1:8

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” (NIV)

Devotional Thought

Have you ever had an assignment that felt too big, too heavy, or too far outside your strength? Jesus gives His followers a mission that spans the world — but promises the power to fulfill it.

Interpretation

Jesus promises his disciples that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, empowering them to serve as witnesses of his resurrection and gospel from Jerusalem outward to the ends of the earth. This "power" (dynamis) refers to the dynamic, enabling presence of the Spirit that equips ordinary believers for bold mission, transcending ethnic and geographic boundaries. In context, following the disciples' question about restoring Israel's kingdom, Jesus redirects their focus to Spirit-empowered testimony. The Spirit's universal outpouring is the cooperative source of mission vitality, inviting all responders to join in bearing witness amid a diverse world. Through the power of the Holy Spirit what Israel was either unwilling or unable to do, Jesus says his followers can accomplish. 

Contemporary Relevance

You are not expected to follow Jesus or join His mission using your own resources. The Spirit empowers courage when you feel afraid, clarity when you feel confused, and compassion when you feel stretched thin. God collaborates with us—inviting our participation but supplying the strength. The Spirit’s empowerment is not always dramatic, but it is always purposeful, steady, and kingdom-directed.

Quote of the Day

“The Spirit gives us the courage to stand up for truth and love in a world that desperately needs both.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

Reflection Question

What is one task in your current sphere of life that feels beyond your strength, and how can you intentionally rely on the Spirit’s power today?

Prayer Prompt

Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with courage, clarity, and compassion as you live as Christ’s witness.

• Copyright 2026 by Steven Chapman. Used by permission.