In the past 6 months we have shown our house to 3 prospective families who are relocating to our town. Our house is not officially on the market, but a few realtors know that we have a desire to downsize now that 2 of our 3 kids are off to college, so they reach out to us. Each time after the showing we have gotten a phone call from the showing agent saying, “Your house showed great! They really liked it! It is one of their top 2 choices. We will get back to you soon!” With this news our minds start reeling with thoughts! Where will we move? How much time will we have to find a new house? The excitement grows quickly. But, low and behold, 3 times now, we have gotten the same phone call, “They really loved your house, but they chose the other one.” So many questions go through our minds at this point! What is wrong with our house? God, don’t you want us to downsize and save money? Will we ever get out of this house? God what is your plan???
Today we read the first chapter of the Book of Acts. Jesus has spent the past 40 days with His disciples. They saw and touched his nail pierced hands. They ate together. They talked about the Kingdom of God. They enjoyed being together. The disciples were asking Jesus exactly this question. God what is your plan? If you are leaving us, what are we to do?
Acts 1:6-8 (ESV) So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The Father alone sets the dates and times of our future’s events. And as much as we want to know what’s next, the answers are not for us to know.
Jesus had to leave so that we could be armed with the presence of and power of the Holy Spirit. We are given one mission as Jesus states in the verse above, to be His witness to ALL people. Everywhere we go, we need to tell people about Jesus.
As we face our day and the unknown days ahead of us, we are not without purpose. Even though we may not know our next steps. Or, we may receive answers that we don’t think are right, we are not without direction. The Holy Spirit is with us and longs to be part of all our interactions each and every moment.
May we not miss a moment today when:
talking with our neighbor, the grocery store check out person, the Starbuck’s drive through person, our child’s teacher, our child’s coach, our co-worker, our boss, our parents, and even our own children…
to know that THEY are our purpose! We need to share the love of Jesus with each and every person we encounter!
The Holy Spirit is with us and He will empower us as we tell them about Jesus and who Jesus is to us.
Share the good news!
Love God, Love People!