Why ‘the wait’ is WORTH EVERYTHING!
“Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, . . . “
(The Acts of the Apostles 1: 4a NASB)
I grew up during the time of the SEARS catalogue. Maybe you too.
I grew up during the time of ‘waiting’ expectantly for Christmas to come. Maybe you too.
I grew up during the time of traveling on vacation from Indiana to Kentucky, when there was only ONE rest area between Indianapolis and Louisville & ONE 76 Truck Stop, a time when ‘waiting’ to use the facilities was truly a LONG WAIT. Maybe you too.
I grew up during the time of ‘waiting patiently’ to use the phone, ‘waiting’ for someone down the street to complete his phone conversation so that I could take my turn using the SHARED party line. Maybe you too.
Waiting.
Today, it seems crazy to sit for hours looking at a catalogue, when we can now click on what we want, order, and within days (maybe even the next day) receive the desired item.
Today, no one would consider waiting for the use of a phone, when we each now carry our own phone with us, one small enough to fit into our back pockets.
Today, no one would drive on holiday, willingly, knowing that there was only one opportunity to use the facilities for the next seven hours.
Today, we are an impatient group of individuals.
Today, we struggle to even wait patiently at the stop lights, waiting for the RED lights to turn GREEN. Some of us just roll right through the 4-way stops & RED lights, listening as strangers yell out their truck windows: “You’re supposed to stop.”
Waiting.
Jesus has something to say about the process of ‘waiting.’
“Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised,
(The Acts of the Apostles 1: 4-5 NASB)
“Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me;
for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.“
- Jesus reminded His disciples how they were “to wait for what the Father had promised,”
- Jesus told His disciples that they knew Who was coming, for they had “heard of from Me;”
- Jesus foretold His disciples how they “will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”
- Jesus asked His disciples to WAIT for the Holy Spirit would be coming “not many days from now.”
WAITING!
- Why are we (the children of God) to pray—Waiting—for the Lord’s response?
- Why are we (the Christians) to seek God—Waiting—for Him?
- Why are we (the Redeemed, the Saved) to testify to the lost—Waiting—for the moving of the Holy Spirit to lead as we witness?
Why are we to WAIT?
BECAUSE JESUS HIMSELF TELLS US TO DO SO!
BECAUSE JESUS IS COMING ONE DAY SOON, MAYBE EVEN LATER TODAY!
BECAUSE THE ‘WAIT’ IS WORTH EVERYTHING!
“He said to them,
(The Acts of the Apostles 1: 7-8 NASB)
“It is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;
but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria,
and even to the remotest part of the earth.”