And see, I am sending you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.
Luke 24:49

I was a teenager and I really liked the way our Minister of Music dressed. He wore cardigan sweaters and paisley ties. I was becoming clothes conscious. In my high school and college years I enjoyed shopping for my own clothes and following some fashion trends. The leisure shirts and suits were probably “mistakes”!

To this day I still enjoy shopping for clothes and probably have way too many in my wardrobe. Now I have gotten on the bow tie and Happy Socks kick. Those two articles of clothing don’t cause me any trouble, but I have discovered a problem, and in some sense, it is a flash back to the past. In my youth I never wore tapered shirts. They were tapered where I needed more room. I never have liked tight fitting clothing! Now in the Men’s Departments I am finding “Modern Fit” or “Slim Fit” clothing. Well, it is like tapered shirts all over again. If I choose a “Modern Fit” item, then I must go up a size or two. I just do not have a Modern Fit body!

Jesus is reminding His disciples of the things written about Him in the law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms and how they must be fulfilled. He opened their minds to understand the scriptures. He reminded them of His passion, death and resurrection and told them that repentance and forgiveness of sins are to be proclaimed in His name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem. He charges them to remember that they are witnesses of these things.

Jesus tells His disciples to remain in the city and await being clothed with power from on high. The disciples will not need to be concerned whether this “clothing” will fit. The Spirit will empower them to proclaim in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations. Jesus then led them out and lifted His hands to bless them. Jesus was then carried away into heaven. The disciples worshiped Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

The Holy Spirit empowers us today to proclaim in Jesus’ name repentance and forgiveness of sins to others. The Holy Spirit empowers our worship … to praise and thank God for the great things He has done.

Prayer

Almighty God, we thank You for gifting us with the Holy Spirit which is sure-to-fit and empowers us to do things we could never imagine. We thank You too that the Holy Spirit helps us to praise and worship You in ways that bring honor and glory to Your name. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.