FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19
Scripture: Acts 1:9-11

Acts 1:9-11 declares the ascension of Christ and becomes a central turning point in the plan of salvation. We could almost describe the first two layers of God’s love as His primary pre-ascension ministry gifts. They were completely demonstrated by Jesus in the Gospels. In the Gospels, we see the picture of the Suffering-Servant Savior who loved everyone and took the sin of the whole world on Himself. He did very little resisting of evil. In this season of Jesus’ ministry, there was less resistance of evil than there was “turn-the-other-cheek.” The second aspect, or phase, of His ministry in the Gospels was pastoral. Jesus demonstrated tremendous forbearance. Whether it was misguided tax collectors, the Samaritan woman caught in adultery or the woman at the well, we see that Jesus was very pastoral in the Gospels. But once He ascended, things began to change dramatically. The remainder of the layers of God’s love begins to unfold before us as we see the fullness of Christ develop!