With this devotional, we will begin a journey through the New Testament book of Acts. As I’ve read this story of early Christians, I’ve discovered that a large portion of the New Testament is connected in some way with the book of Acts. As I’ve read the first eleven verses, I have found three promises, a challenge, and then the ultimate promise. 

The three promises (Acts 1:5-8):   

1.    You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.   
2.    You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes.   
3.    You will be My witnesses. 

The challenge: "Why do you stand here looking into the sky?" (Acts 1:11) 

And the ultimate promise: "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" (Acts 1:11).    

The promises ignite in me a spark of optimism as I realize where my spiritual strength, motivation, and encouragement can come from. The challenge has given me that gentle nudge to do something with what God has given me. I'm sure this will be developed further in the coming days as I continue to be blessed and challenged by the stories of how the Holy Spirit worked through those early disciples.   

The ultimate promise is one I fear has sometimes lost its priority in our lives. I am not here on this planet only to gain an education, get a job, raise a family, buy a car, or anything else. I am here to bless others with the exciting promise that this world is not our home, that heaven is a reality, and that anything shy of making that our ultimate focus will result in spiritual frustration.   

God has promised to provide all we need to live for Him. We can move forward, living our lives as His witnesses, with our highest priority on the reality that Jesus is coming again! 

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. "God is Faithful" is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.