But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8).
We’ve all been there — the point of confusion and desperation. Things have not gone according to our plans, and we feel vulnerable and exposed to the enemy. The disciples found themselves in that kind of place in Acts 1, as virtually everything in their lives had been turned upside down in a matter of days. They had left everything to follow Jesus, and these men had been His faithful disciples for three years.
But like so many of us have learned: If we’re following Jesus, we’re walking toward the cross. To become a Christ-follower is to embrace personal sacrifice and suffering. While we have faith and confidence in the end result, our lives are filled with momentary uncertainty and pain. These disciples had watched their Master die publicly, and they witnessed His body being placed in a tomb. To say they experienced a spiritual low is an understatement.
But the narrative of Luke’s writings in Acts 1 is post-resurrection. These disciples have seen the empty tomb — but more than that, they have witnessed the resurrected body of Jesus standing before them. Talk about a roller coaster of emotions. I can’t help but try to imagine what they might have been thinking. What were their first questions and greatest concerns?
Familiarity with a passage of Scripture often causes us to miss some of its most beneficial lessons. For example, we’re all too familiar with these words spoken by Jesus in Acts 1:8. The scene is the ascension of Jesus. He is leaving the disciples and delivering to them the Great Commission. I’ve always known that verse 8 begins with the word “but” — but I’ve never really focused on verses 6 and 7. These verses answer some questions, while also teaching us a valuable lesson.
So the men came together, and the first thing they asked Jesus was basically, “What’s the plan?” I get that! They were on this roller coaster and wanted some answers. Maybe they felt like it was owed to them. After all, they had followed Him so faithfully. Jesus’ answer was likely a surprise: “It’s not for you to know …” The plan belongs to the Father, and it’s above our pay grade.
This is where familiarity comes in handy. “But you will receive power.” Let’s put it together. You don’t have to know the plan, but you must possess the power. You can make it through the challenges of this life, and you can fulfill the purpose of God in your life, without detailed knowledge of the plan of God. But you cannot make it without the supernatural power of God.
Consider this promise today: We don’t always know the plan of God, but we do always have access to the power of God.
May this be our prayer: “God, forgive me when I become distracted by the things of this world and fail to see things clearly. Help me understand Your ways and learn to trust You more when my understanding is limited. When I can’t know Your plan, teach me to live in the power of Your Holy Spirit.”