Monday, February 16, 2026

Opening Scripture

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Opening Prayer

Gracious Father, I believe you are able to do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine, according to your power at work within me. Help me to trust you today to meet all my needs. May your love and peace be present and evident in my life. May others see Jesus in me. In His name I pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Acts 1:1-11

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? 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.”

Reflection  

During this Winter series, we’ve explored the truth that each of us has been “Designed to Flourish.” This series launched our year-long emphasis for 2026 entitled, “Flourishing Together: Transformed on The Jesus Way.”

God has designed us to flourish together for His purposes. He has called us and equipped us to live on mission for Him. He invites us to be part of His worldwide redemption plan! A central aspect of that mission is found in today’s passage.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Followers of Jesus have been redeemed and empowered to serve as His witnesses here, there, and everywhere.

Two weeks ago, we looked at the “Great Priority” in Matthew 6:33 to “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” We also considered the “Great Commandment” in Matthew 22:37-40 to “Love God and love people.” Today’s passage reflects the “Great Commission” in Matthew 28:18-20 to “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

We see in today’s text that, after His resurrection, Jesus’ closest followers were still confused about the nature of His mission, even after He showed Himself to them and gave many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and teaching them about the Kingdom of God.

We’re not so different from them. We, too, are often confused about the nature of Jesus’ mission and the role He’s called us to play. Like those first disciples, we want God to “fix things” the way we think they ought to be. But God’s mission is always much bigger than ours.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Flourishing Habit

Meaning and Purpose

The old Mission Impossible TV series began with the opening line, “Your mission, should you choose to accept it…” Those words set the tone for each episode, indicating that the characters would need to decide to take on a challenging and dangerous assignment.

Do you understand your life mission? Do you realize that you have been saved for a purpose? Jesus told his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21).

Our mission is a continuation of Jesus’ mission on the earth. We are His representatives. We are called and equipped to share the truth that Jesus is Lord, God loves people, they can be saved and forgiven, and they can be adopted into God’s forever family.

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God!” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

How will you live out your mission today?

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!