27.4 – Devotion

In a relay race, a team of runners each runs a portion, going one by one in a mad dash for the finish. While they are running, athletes carry a baton, which they pass to the next runner once they complete their section. After receiving the baton, the new runner takes off and continues the race until passing the baton to the next runner.

Just like a runner passing on the baton to a teammate, other people can figuratively pass on the baton to someone else. Some examples of this can be found in the Bible. Kings passed the baton to their successors when they died. God instructed the prophet Elijah to pass the baton to his student, Elisha, and Elisha continued to be God’s prophet after Elijah went into heaven. Most notably, Jesus passed the baton of His ministry to His disciples when He ascended to heaven. He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). The apostles followed Jesus’ instructions and taught people about what He has done. We can also pick up the baton from Jesus and the disciples, and we are told to also share God’s Word with others. God wants everybody to know about Him and how He loves us and has saved us from our sins.

  1. What does it mean to “pass the baton” to someone?
  2. Just like Jesus passed the baton of ministry to the disciples, someone probably passed the baton to you. Who told you about God?
  3. How can you “pass the baton” on to someone else? Who can you share God’s Word with?

Let’s pray:

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your love and forgiveness. Thank You for the people in our lives who shared the Good News of Jesus with us and help us to share Your Word with others. In Your holy name we pray. Amen.