Receive the Power – Be the Light

 

Receive the Power – Be the Light

 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts of the Apostles 1:8

World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney holds a special place in my heart. The theme—this very verse from Acts—resonated powerfully throughout the event. I had the privilege of helping prepare the Jesus Youth delegation from India. At that point in my life, it felt like a herculean task. Sleepless nights, last-minute arrangements, unfamiliar systems and the weight of expectations had me utterly exhausted.

But during the actual days of WYD, something happened. Every time the crowd sang, "Receive the Power to be a light unto the world!" it felt like a divine charge being poured into my tired spirit. That simple chorus was no mere lyric—it became my strength.

There is something absolutely incredible about the Holy Spirit. He does not wait for us to be perfect or fully ready. He fills us with power when we are weak, clueless, and frightened—and transforms ordinary hearts into bold witnesses. The apostles were hiding in fear until Pentecost came. But once filled with the Holy Spirit, they spoke with courage, crossed boundaries, faced persecution and carried the Gospel like fire through the known world.

During the early days of my college life when I felt a strong inner call from the Lord. I was not entirely sure what that meant, but I did something quite dramatic. I went out and bought two maps—one of Karnataka and another of the world. Across both, I wrote in bold: “Lord, here I am. Send me as your light to the ends of the world.” In hindsight, I did not really know what I was asking for—but clearly, the Lord took that prayer very seriously!

He first sent me to every corner of Karnataka when I served as the Regional Coordinator. Then He sent me to far-off towns and cities across India as the National Coordinator. At that point, I truly believed I had reached “the ends of the world!” But God, with His gentle humour, had more in His plan—eventually, I found myself travelling to different countries as He called me to serve as the International Coordinator of Jesus Youth.

But here is something I have learnt: “To the ends of the earth” does not always mean getting a passport stamped. Jerusalem is our inner life, our home, our closest circles. Judea represents the neighbourhoods and routines we are used to. Samaria? That is where things get uncomfortable—places, people, or situations that we instinctively avoid. Finally, “the ends of the earth” could simply be the uncomfortable corners of our own hearts, or the hidden places in our daily life where we are most needed.

Look at the lives of heroes like St. Francis Xavier, who travelled oceans to share the Gospel, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who never left her convent but became the patron saint of missions. Both responded to the same Holy Spirit, both bore witness—one with his feet, the other with her prayers.

Today, you may not feel strong. You may feel too small, too unqualified or too ordinary. But remember, God is not asking for your strength. He is offering His. The same Spirit who moved through saints and apostles is waiting to fill you.

Ask yourself: Where is my Jerusalem? Who are the people in my daily life God is calling me to love and witness to? What is my Judea and Samaria—those familiar or difficult places I resist entering? And am I willing to whisper that simple prayer again, “Lord, here I am. Send me”?

You do not need a microphone, a stage, or a boarding pass to be His witness. All you need is a heart open to the Spirit—and a willingness to shine. The world, in all its beauty and brokenness, is waiting for your light.