Acts 1 - Sometimes we wait

“ ¹In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach ²until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. ³After his suffering, he showed himself to these men 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. ⁴On 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. ⁵For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

Here Jesus is speaking with everyone for the last time before He ascends into Heaven. To all present this must have seemed somewhat of an end, maybe thinking “Jesus is returning to the Father, it was all up to us now”. One’s first inclination is to go, to leave, to return to “normal” life (work, home, etc.) OR go out into the world and spread the awesome news of Jesus Christ. Either way, one might be thinking, it’s time to go do something. But Jesus told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait. Wait for the gift from God, the Holy Spirit, which would serve as a guide, comforter, source of strength, and so much more. Human understanding called for going, but Jesus said wait, for there is something great coming that you don’t want to miss.

Many times in our lives we face the same thing. We confuse activity with productivity. We want to move forward, to do something for the glory of God, but sometimes that “something” is waiting on Him and His timing. So, instead of rushing forward for the sake of doing something, we should speak with God and determine our next move. It might be to rush forward, but it might also be to wait until He prepares us for what is to come. In all things, trust and follow the Lord, then there will be no doubt as to what should be done. Blessings.