Thursday, April 25, 2013

April 26, 2013

"In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:1-8


Has your life ever seemed like this?


(Note - I am referring to the spinning plates not having people stepping on your head)


Life gets tougher when you try to do too many things. The reason people pay to watch these Chinese acrobats is because of their unusual ability to do several difficult tasks at the same time. They are the exception not the norm.


God wired you and calls you to do just one thing well - obey Him.  You obey Him because you love Him. As you love Him well through obedience other good things happen! You will love others and you will serve Him by serving others.


So, the last thing Jesus told to His followers was one thing to do was one thing: "Wait!" But not just to "wait" but to wait for His promise to be fulfilled. With that in mind you realize the one thing Jesus is actually requiring of them


You know as well as I do that the enemy to doing one thing are the distractions caused by many things! Here is another humorous example of how that feels when you get stretched too many ways:


If your life feels like either the plate spinners or the sprinters with no direction, why not meditate on this Scripture text and let God refocus you on the one thing that will rescue you from the many things?