Has The Time Come?
“So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom? He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8).
I am ready for something new. New passion for the Word. New ability to handle anger. New love for my children and husband. New dreams. New places with God.
But I am still in the same two-story white house where I have lived for six years. I am irritated and weary a lot of the time. I am in love with Jesus, but my passion for Him is often hidden beneath my own insecurities.
I ask Jesus, “Has the time come?” I mean, really. How much longer is is going to be, Lord?
The disciples had these longings, these deep and raw desires that they brought to Him. They wanted freedom for Israel. They wanted their kingdom restored. I can hear the yearning in their voices as they sit next to their Savior, exposing the deep places of their hearts. They hope. They long. They want it so badly.
I, too, want freedom. I want my little kingdom restored right now. To have Jesus come in and instantly right every wrong, to take complete control of every area that I have damaged. To wipe out existing structures and begin building a new and pleasant place, full of life and every good thing.
Has the time come?
And Jesus does not say yes to the disciples. He does not say no, either. He tells them that God the Father has all authority to bring freedom and to make a new kingdom. “And,” Jesus says, “they are not for you to know.” The closest friends of Christ do not get the answer they want to hear.
I don’t get answers either. I am still hurting. I am still undisciplined. Still longing for more of God and less of me.
Jesus continues, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”
As I read this verse this morning, I was filled with this quick realization of the character of God. Jesus didn’t give the disciples what they wanted, He gave them something better. He gave them power. He gave them the Holy Spirit.
Power. The Holy Spirit. I have those things. They are gifts to me from God – and instead of embracing them with joy and gratitude, I am still sitting by the side of the road devastated that I won’t see freedom for Israel.
No more. It’s time for me to get up. God knows exactly what His children need. He has given us power to live out His purposes for the lives He is calling us to. He has lavished us with an amazing Counselor, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, to strengthen us for the journey.
Life abundant is mine today. Not because Jesus has given me everything I want. But because He has given me everything that I need.
The time has indeed come.
Lord, I love you. Thank you for your Word. Thank you that your Word is alive and speaking to me this day. Thank you for your power and for the Holy Spirit. In the name of your Holy Son, Jesus. Amen.
Wow, I just enjoyed the past minutes catching up with your story and I’ve been blessed. So many of us make it look like we’ve got it all together (we don’t need proofreaders!) and we have all the answers. But YOU – you and your transparency are what the world needs now. We need to hear that we’re not alone in longing for His return, that what our lives look like doesn’t always match what we had imagined. But, there’s hope because we can get up and live in His power today. Thanks!
This reminds me about the new devotionals being posted at Faith Lifts for the Walk in Galations is on the same subject. I think it’s amazing sometimes how many of us are being lead down that same path and where the Lord is leading us, closer to him. I enjoy reading about your journey Jess. It’s as if we’re walking in it together.
Wow. I needed to hear what you said today. We have everything we need right now…we need to get up from the side of the road and use the gifts we have been given–right here each in our own little world of influence. I think that I, too, often think that I’m waiting for God to use me in a big way, but He is waiting for us to be faithful in the little things first. Home with our children. Home in our little ho=hum houses. With our husbands. With the small things we do in our everyday lives.
Thanks!