A New Chapter Begins

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the Disciples returned to Jerusalem.  Jesus had told them to wait there until they received the gift of the Holy Spirit, which He had promised to them.  They had no idea how long they would have to wait.  He had given them a mission to spread the Good News, but now they had to wait. 

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been good at waiting.  This year will mark the 50^th year since I took the bar exam.  I endured those two days of torture in the middle of July, but it wasn’t until mid-October that I finally received the results.  Those were approximately three months of agony as I wondered if I had passed.  Thankfully, the results were good, and I was finally sworn in as an attorney on October 21, 1976.  Still, that was some of the most difficult “waiting” that I have ever experienced. 

You’ve probably had similar waiting periods—waiting for your wedding date, or the birth of your first child, or some other milestone.  Sometimes we can tie ourselves in knots, just waiting.

The Disciples had no way of knowing that they would only have to wait ten days until the day of Pentecost.  Jesus didn’t give them a schedule, so they just had to wait patiently.  Unlike many of us, who tend to waste our “wait time” by stewing and stressing, they put their “wait time” to good use.  The Disciples took two important steps while they waited.

First, “They all joined together constantly in prayer” (Acts 1:14a NIV84).  They didn’t waste the time.  They put it to good use by praying to the Father.  They had no idea of what to expect, so talking with the One who did know was the logical step. The men were joined by other followers of Jesus, including His mother and His brothers.

Secondly, they realized that Judas’ position as an Apostle needed to be filled.  This new Disciple had to meet certain criteria, including being a witness to all that Jesus had done and taught.  Two men were eligible but knowing that this choice was too important to leave to their own desires, they sought God’s guidance in making the final decision.  He chose Matthias to fill the vacancy.

My point is that “waiting” is not a time to be idle.  There is still work to be done.  When you are not sure of the next step, then keep doing the last thing that God has led you to do.  Most importantly, make sure that you bathe your “wait time” in prayer.  The answer will come in God’s timing, which is always perfect.

Read: Acts 1: 1 – 26

Food for Thought:

• What are you waiting for?  What should you do while you wait?