Scripture: Acts 1:1-6 (KJV)
1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Observation(s)
Jesus went to great length to show Himself alive after He had risen from the dead. He spent enough time with his disciples they were no longer in awe of his resurrection. They continued to treat him as if he would be there with them all the time.
They were instructed to stay in Jerusalem and wait to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, the promise the Father had made.
Remember throughout the Bible, OBEDIENCE REMAINS THE KEY TO RECEIVING FROM GOD, it is still very important to Jesus that his disciples OBEY his instructions.
When they all got together they started asking Jesus if it was the time the kingdom would be restored to Israel, they were again missing the point of Jesus teaching and instructions. We do not need to get ahead of God trying to find out if the future holds all the things we desire in life, if we obey Christ and His Word our desire in life will be to please Christ.
Application:
Just because we know something, that does not mean we always recognize the significance of what we know, now or in the future. We must always strive to obey the Lord’s instructions even though we may not immediately understand the reason or implications of why those instructions were give or what the outcome will be or even who will be affected by the outcome.
We must always serve and obey the Lord Jesus because we love Him with all our heart, not because of some supposed benefit of that obedience.
Prayer:
Father forgive me for my hesitation to obey you at times, help me to be able to obey without so many questions. Let your love flow through me to touch the lives of others so you may do great things through them. Help me to grasp the importance of the message you have given us to share. I ask you also that you help me always be aware of the wonderful salvation you have given me and the price that was required to make that available not only to me but to all who will listen and accept the message of salvation through Jesus. Thank you for each day you give me and for the wonderful people you have surrounded me with.