March 30 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

In March we read the gospel of John. John wrote his gospel so that his readers would know and believe the claims of Jesus. Those who do have everlasting life here and now.

Bible Reading:

John 20:19–23

Bible Text:

"Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.... Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:21–22).

Devotional:

That Sunday evening—Easter Sunday—Jesus entered the room where his followers were huddling behind locked doors. Then and there the risen Lord made it plain that he would continue his mission through his followers.

He gave them his peace: "Peace be with you."

He gave them his mission: "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

He gave them his Spirit: "He breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.' ''

And he gave them his authority: "If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Jesus activated the disciples' new mission on the day of Pentecost, when he sent his Spirit to the disciples and sent the disciples into the world (Acts 2). The church of Jesus Christ is the mobile unit through which the Lord by his Spirit finishes his redemptive work. Christ's mission is our mission; our mission is his mission.

The victorious Lord sent us, and we must represent our Sender with authority and authenticity. Through us, people meet Jesus. The world will be judged by what it does with the church. The church will be judged by how closely she resembles her Sender.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.