In a biography of Alexander the Great, the writer describes the panic felt by the Greek army when Alexander died.  They discovered that they had marched off their maps, and had no idea where they were or where to go.

This will never happen to us.  Jesus gave his followers a map we'll never march beyond--a blueprint we will use until the end of time.  It is so simple that any Christian can understand it, and so challenging that we must never think we are finished.

In this season between Easter and Pentecost, we're learning to join God at work.  Only when our lives are aligned with his purpose can we know his joy and find true significance.  So what is his purpose for this day?  Our Savior promised, "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18).  In his last words before his ascension, the Master Carpenter gave us the blueprint for all he would build with and through us.

Yesterday we remembered our purpose: "You will be my witnesses."  We discovered the people for the purpose: every member of God's family is called to accomplish his call.  How?  "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…."  The Spirit of God enables the people of God to accomplish the purpose of God.

We cannot be an effective servant of the Father without the help of his Spirit.  We cannot convict a single person of a single sin or save a single soul.  We can only do what God asks, trusting the Spirit to use us to build the Kingdom and glorify the Lord.

God's purpose for our lives is clear; the people and power to fulfill that call are defined.  Last, Jesus' blueprint sets out our priority: we begin where we are.  The first believers started in Jerusalem because they were in Jerusalem.  Then they moved to Judea, Samaria, and the "ends of the earth."  We plant the seed where we're standing.  We begin with the people we know, then take Christ to our community and world.

Now, blueprint in hand, Jesus begins to lay the foundation.  Watch the plan unfold as the Book of Acts describes the advance of Christianity across the known world.  First our Lord settles the leadership of the church to replace Judas: "they cast lots, and the lot fell on Matthias, so he was added to the eleven apostles" (Acts 1:26).

Then he empowers his church by his Spirit.  On the day of Pentecost, "all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:4).  What does this mean?  Let's continue tomorrow.

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