Acts 1: Knowing Versus Being
Acts 1: 6, 7, 8 So when they had come together, they asked HIM, “Lord are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and in the ends of the earth.
There are so many things I’d like to know. If I make decision “A”, what will the future be? If i make decision “B”, will be future be better or worse than if I had made decision “A”. I’d also like a clear understanding of the situation in the world, and what steps to take to have things turn out in a way I would like.
But is ‘knowing’ what I am to concentrate on?
This scripture tells us that Jesus did not really answer the disciples question about when the kingdom would be restored. He said “it is not for you to know”. Clearly, the disciples would not need this information to live in faith. That means I don’t need the answers to some of my questions and getting answers should not necessarily be my focus.
One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 131:1-3
Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I do not get involved with things too great or too difficult for me. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself like a little weaned child with its mother; I am like a little child. Israel, put your hope in the LORD, both now and forever.
I can choose to trust like a weaned child, instead of being concerned about things that are beyond my control. I can, like Israel is encouraged to do in the Psalm, put my hope in the Lord.
Jesus did give the disciples something to focus on: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come and you and you will be My witnesses . . .” They were to focus on being his witnesses.
That tells me I should focus on being a witness for Him, looking for opportunities to tell of His love for me and for others, of the need for repentance, of how close His second coming might be.
I could condemn myself so easily for not being a good enough witness for Christ. Yet that would not please the Lord, Drawing closer to HIm, spending time with Him in a deeply trusting relationship like a child spends time with his or her mother would please him much more.
copyright: K Carswell, 2020
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by Permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
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