Tuesday 7 June, 2016
Acts 1:12-14
12 The apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives. It is just over half a mile from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Here is a list of those who were there. Peter, John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas son of James 14 They all came together regularly to pray. The women joined them too. So did Jesus’ mother Mary and his brothers.
Jesus has just ascended into heaven so now the disciples head back to Jerusalem to wait (v4) & pray together. They are all named in this passage so there is no doubt that they were all “in this for good” (v14Msge). Women were also included in this time of waiting & praying along with Jesus’ mother & brothers. There was no exclusion.
There are 2 things that stand out for me, the 1st is that the disciples were all together. They had all seen & heard so much with Jesus & there were certainly different reactions for all of them in the garden, the trial, the cross & I think there was yet another choice here now to individually stay. This shows me that God wants me to come to him freely, it is our choice, it is our will & no matter what, He will not override it. Our heart is to love & follow Him freely.
The 2nd thing is that Jesus’ mother and brothers (there are 4 mentioned in Mk 6:3) are also in this group. Regardless of the close blood relationship with Jesus, they also had to make their individual choices to believe in Him. John 7:5 specifically says that Jesus’ brothers did not believe in Him at that time. A change has happened in their hearts as they are now counted as followers & believers in Jesus, waiting & praying together with the disciples. Again, God wants our hearts to come to believe in Jesus individually, regardless of our family background.
Lord Jesus, I am so glad that you want our hearts to come, believe & worship you freely, not because of what our family does or an experience we’ve had or because a law tells us to do so, but because we see you as our personal Lord, saviour, creator, friend and lover of our souls. Amen.
Written by Suzie Hodgson
In spite of the tumultuous events and the confusion of the past 50 (or so) days since Jesus’ crucifixion, and in spite of the ongoing oppression from the high priests, the disciples go into the city of Jerusalem to the familiar upper room to wait and pray. This was the Church in its embryonic state – a group of individuals who had experienced the power of the living Christ but now we’re in limbo, waiting for something.
This makes me reflect on how I tend to behave when I’m in limbo. For me, I hate waiting for anything. I tend to busy myself with whatever I can. Technology tends to fit the bill most of the time, but if my phone battery is flat and there isn’t a computer around, I’ll look for chores and jobs and projects that need doing. Failing that, I would maybe pray and seek God with intention.
Oops. I think I’m getting that wrong. Let me clarify here though that I’m not being completely ungodly here- I do know my own leanings, so I have intentionally built moments into my schedule that give me opportunities to pray and read The Word and seek God, but I need to keep working on turning my priorities back round the right way when I am in the in-between times. I need to take the opportunity to really listen to God not just when I have planned, but also when He plans it!
Lord may I continue to grow in my awareness of my dependence on you, that I might seek you and your kingdom as first priority in all things. At all times. Amen.
” They came together to pray regularly” That verse stood out to me. There was regular praying and waiting on God.
We know that we have to wait for God’s timing. But this is a reminder that praying regularly while waiting is important. It prepares our heart and mind for what God is going to do.
Thank you Lord for the reminder . Please help me wait and pray for your intervention . Amen