Main Point and Overview:
Sometimes it’s hard to see what God is doing…until he opens our eyes! The twelve disciples of Jesus were in this situation. They had heard over and over again about the Kingdom of God, but they misunderstood its meaning for a long time. Even in the days leading up to Jesus’ death on The Cross, they were filled with fear and wonder as they realized that the kingdom Jesus spoke of was a spiritual and not a physical kingdom. They had questions and concerns, just like you and me. So often, we live in fear because we cannot see what God is doing in our lives. We wish that he would simply give us an audible answer or some form of a sign, yet he doesn’t, at least not in our timing. Why is this? I believe it’s because he wants us to trust in him “one moment at a time!” He wants us to be obedient and faithful “one day at a time.” When Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples “didn’t see that coming!” In fact, they were so surprised that they just stared at him until an angel interrupted their fixation with words of encouragement. They needed to remember that Jesus had given them a purpose. They needed to focus on that purpose, even though they were not exactly sure how it was going to play out. So, they gathered together and prayed. They made prayer an obsession in dependence on God. Then, it happened! The prophecy came to pass; the Holy Spirit came! In that amazing moment on the Day of Pentecost, disciples all over Jerusalem began to boldly proclaim the truth of the Gospel. In a moment, everything changed – from fear to faith, from concern to commitment, from pain to purpose – the Gospel was being boldly proclaimed! The Apostle Peter, who had at one time denied Jesus, was the most influential leader of the disciples in this moment. He boldly preached the Gospel, calling out sin, and the result was a movement of God! One of the hardest seasons in life is the “waiting period.” We have a certain perception of what life should be, and when it doesn’t happen the way we want or thought, we panic. Take heart. You and I are just like the disciples struggling to see the “big picture.” In the meantime, be patient, prayerful, and poised for when God removes the blinders!
Sometimes it’s hard to see what God is doing…until he opens our eyes! The twelve disciples of Jesus were in this situation. They had heard over and over again about the Kingdom of God, but they misunderstood its meaning for a long time. Even in the days leading up to Jesus’ death on The Cross, they were filled with fear and wonder as they realized that the kingdom Jesus spoke of was a spiritual and not a physical kingdom. They had questions and concerns, just like you and me. So often, we live in fear because we cannot see what God is doing in our lives. We wish that he would simply give us an audible answer or some form of a sign, yet he doesn’t, at least not in our timing. Why is this? I believe it’s because he wants us to trust in him “one moment at a time!” He wants us to be obedient and faithful “one day at a time.” When Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples “didn’t see that coming!” In fact, they were so surprised that they just stared at him until an angel interrupted their fixation with words of encouragement. They needed to remember that Jesus had given them a purpose. They needed to focus on that purpose, even though they were not exactly sure how it was going to play out. So, they gathered together and prayed. They made prayer an obsession in dependence on God. Then, it happened! The prophecy came to pass; the Holy Spirit came! In that amazing moment on the Day of Pentecost, disciples all over Jerusalem began to boldly proclaim the truth of the Gospel. In a moment, everything changed – from fear to faith, from concern to commitment, from pain to purpose – the Gospel was being boldly proclaimed! The Apostle Peter, who had at one time denied Jesus, was the most influential leader of the disciples in this moment. He boldly preached the Gospel, calling out sin, and the result was a movement of God! One of the hardest seasons in life is the “waiting period.” We have a certain perception of what life should be, and when it doesn’t happen the way we want or thought, we panic. Take heart. You and I are just like the disciples struggling to see the “big picture.” In the meantime, be patient, prayerful, and poised for when God removes the blinders!
Posted in Devotional