There is no way around it. The Word of God will capture you, and will exemplify something so essential to the Kingdom of God: to our trusting in it, living in it, and doing the work of it in the world. The Word just hits you in the face, not only the words themselves but the intent and the feeling behind them.
“Love your Enemy”
“Love the Lord your God”
“Turn the other Cheek.”
“Judge Not.”
There is a whole lot more behind those things than simply the words themselves. There is sacrifice, love, compassion, respect, humility.
And from Acts today there was one phrase that jumped out at me revealing something far greater than the Words used and it comes from Acts 1: 11, after Jesus had ascended into Heaven.
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven.”
If you have ever seen something that filled you with awe – either good or bad, you know the scene: people standing around, mouths agape, silent. No one wanting to the first to speak. Nobody knowing actually what to say or do.
So now after all that Jesus had said to them and all that they had seen pass before their eyes there was this one last thing to wonder at before their mission began – the Ascension of Jesus.
Understandably, they were in awe and one could easily imagine they were paralyzed by it all, but the Word of God breaks in a refocuses them.
“Men of Galilee, why so you stand looking into heaven.”
Can you feel the sentiment behind it, the sense of urgency?
“What are you waiting for?” might be a good way to rephrase it.
What are you waiting for? Why are you standing around looking up into Heaven? Jesus will be back but there is much to do so why are you standing around?
“What are you waiting for?
This is a question that can be asked of us every day of our lives in context to Jesus, to our lives as Christians, and to our carrying out the Great Commission and living out the Greatest Commandment.
What are you waiting for?
Ephesians 1:22, tells us that Jesus has command and authority over all things and is the head of the church. This is reiterated in the Great Commission Text in Matthew 28. With this authority he commissions the Apostles assuring them that that he would not abandon them.
Likewise, all the believers who make up the church are so empowered and accompanied by Jesus.
So then what are you waiting for? What do you lack?
What are you waiting to fully embrace Christ in all things?
What are you waiting for when it comes to sharing the Word of God?
What are you waiting for when it comes to asking Christ to heal the broken relationships in your life?
What are you waiting for when it comes to giving the hurt in your life: your failures, your disappointments, your short-comings to Christ?
What are you waiting for when it comes to giving forgiveness and seeking it?
What are you waiting for when it comes to living life and living it more abundantly?
What in your life are you waiting for: for perfection in others, for perfection in yourself, for perfection in the world?
What are you waiting for?
What are YOU waiting for?
And now I ask you to consider this, who might be waiting for you?
I asked what you are waiting for, but this question is for all. And when it comes to needing God’s Word in one’s life, needing healing of broken relationships, needing to know love, needing to know Christ and the freedom he brings, needing release from the pain of failure, guilt, and shame, it might be that you are just what someone is waiting for.
So what are you waiting for? Don’t stand around and look up to Heaven. Christ will return in the Father’s good time, but for us there is much to be done.
What are you waiting for?
AMEN.