Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

"Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land [the Promised Land]…."¹

On this day, April 3, 1968, on the eve of his assassination, Martin Luther King delivered his last sermon at Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee. His closing remarks were: "Well, I don't know what will happen now; we've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long lifeâ€"longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. So I'm happy tonight; I'm not worried about anything; I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."²

Dr. King certainly had a mountaintop experience. Many years before, Moses also had a mountaintop experience. God showed him the land he was promising to the nation of Israel and commissioned Joshua to "arise, go, and possess" this Promised Land. Was it easy to do this? No, not at all. Following Martin Luther King's mountaintop experience it was left to his followers to "arise, go, and possess" the promised land that Dr. King saw. Was it easy for them? No, not at all.

Jesus had a mountaintop experience too. It was at Calvary where he, seeing the whole world lost in sin, gave his life as a sacrifice for all. After his resurrection, he gave his followers a vision/dream tooâ€"actually a commission. It was, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere."³ Now it's up to us to "arise, go, and possess" the vision God has for the worldâ€"reaching people with the gospel messageâ€"one person at a time! Will it be easy? No, not at all. However, knowing this is God's vision and his will, with his help there will always be a way to fulfill it.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, open my eyes that I will clearly see your vision to reach everybody in the world with the saving gospel message of Jesus Christ. And help me to arise and do my part. Also, help me to be as Jesus to every person in my world and grant that they, seeing Jesus in me, will want him for themselves. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

Note: For a simple and effective way to reach people with the gospel, please see our Global Communications Outreach website at: www.actsweb.org/people_power02.php.

1. Deuteronomy 34:1 (NIV).
2. Martin Luther King, speech, "I've Been to the Mountaintop," Memphis, Tennessee (3rd April, 1968). http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAmountaintop.htm
3. Mark 16:15 (NLT).

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