Unstoppable! 'Waiting in Jerusalem to Begin' — Acts 1:6-8

Sunday, January 7, 2024

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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 NLT

Key Thought

"But you will receive power when..." In other words, not yet; they had to wait in Jerusalem for what was next (Luke 24:49). For most of us, waiting feels like a waste of time. However, in Scripture, waiting is a spiritual commitment to pray, listen, and anticipate what God is going to do through his people (Isaiah 40:28-31 NRSV). The disciples waited in prayer (Acts 1:14) and in seeking the Lord's guidance (Acts 1:23-26). Life is sometimes filled with wasted waiting. Let's redeem these earthly waits into spiritual times of prayer, listening, and anticipating what God is going to do through us next!

Today's Prayer

Father, I confess that I am impatient and do not like to wait. I let waiting become wasted time, and wasted time irritates me. I become impatient and compound the wasted time by wasting energy and being less than the person you have called me to be. I pledge to redeem my waiting times by using them as times of spiritual waiting by praying, listening for your still small voice, and anticipating how you are going to use me next. I ask for the Spirit's help as I seek to make each earthly wait a time of spiritual waiting. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Luke 24:49
  • Acts 2:1-5

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Illustration

Illustration of Acts 1:6-8 NLT — 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."

About This Devotional

Unstoppable! is a one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage, a reflection and a prayer. The reflection opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges one to live for Jesus.

Unstoppable! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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