Acts 1:1-11
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[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Verses 7 & 8 struck me personally because I hate not knowing when something is going to happen. I need to know for certain the time and date so I can plan my life accordingly. This passage reminds me that it is not important for me to know of Jesus' exact arrival, but instead continue to spread the Gospel until His coming. It is a great reminder to live everyday as if it were my last.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
thanks for your reflection, esther. it is interesting how the disciples were eager to know whether Jesus would "at [that] time restore the kingdom to israel." as esther points out, Jesus tells them not to worry about the times and the dates as much as to concentrate on the task of being His witnesses to the ends of the earth.
aren't we so much like the disciples? so anxious to know the will of God that has been hidden from us, assuming it is our business, but unconcerned about and unwilling to yield to that part of His will which has been so clearly revealed and commanded!
we should all obey the will of God that we do know and leave the secret, unseen things, such as "the times and the dates", to Him.
Thanks Esther for sharing your thoughts. I totally agree with you and understand how you feel about not knowing what's to come. I'm exactly the same way.
It's so true that we don't know when Christ will return and that we should be prepared and continue to spread the Gospel in his name. The problem that I found in not knowing when he'll return is that I tend to forget what he has called us to do and live my life according to how I want to. I guess the only thing we can do to remind ourselves not to forget is to constantly be on guard, read the Word, and to earnestly pray on a daily basis.
Post a Comment