Waiting for Power


This 1895 painting by Edwin Austin Abbey shows...
This 1895 painting by Edwin Austin Abbey shows the Arthurian knight Sir Galahad discovering the fabled Holy Grail. The famous chalice earned its spiritual power as the cup used by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“And while staying[a] with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father” Acts 1:4

We are often driven to seek authority to make changes in the world around us. Whether the changes we seek are in our homes, in our churches, in our communities, or in the world at large. We strive, we grasp, we rant. In the end, we find ourselves tired, discouraged and exhausted. Or worse, we succumb to seeking the powers of the world in order to obtain the authority we think we need.

Christ was clear about the order of events that we as Christians must abide by. First we wait on the promise of the Father. God reveals to each of us, through our passions, through our knowledge, through our communities, the purpose He has chosen to suit the unique person He created each of us to be. Yet, it cannot be our passions, knowledge, or friendships that powers the work He has prepared for us.

If we rely on our own understanding and our own power, no matter the authority that we achieve, ultimately we will fail to accomplish our purposes. Instead, we prepare ourselves to receive the power of the Holy Spirit. We should spend time each day in study, fellowship, and prayer. We should maintain our focus on God. And we should trust that when His time has come for us to act, He will provide the power to bring about the perfect execution of His plans. Be blessed and be a blessing.

Prayer

Father, we often get excited when we catch glimpses of Your plans for us. We run ahead, seeking ways to bring those plans about. In our rush, we get caught in the worldly lust for authority, or we get frustrated by our failure to achieve the goals we think are needed to fulfill Your plans. Open our hearts to the patience of Your Spirit. Prepare us to become vessels of Your power. And fill us with the joy of knowing Your promises always come at the perfect time. In the name of the one who taught us to wait, Jesus Christ, Amen.

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