What the Children See
Penny and I have nine grandchildren. A few years ago, we had just four. At that time their ages were eight, six, three, and six months. As all little ones do, they watch everything the grown-ups around them do. Their parents were both actively leading a college ministry at the time, so they were being raised around college students every day. Some of the things they were learning from college students made me wonder at times if that was a great plan. Turns out it was. One thing they observed was that their parents had lots of meetings to organize the students and their family activities. When you have a lot of things going on, you definitely need some organization or you simply can’t get things done. So, the eight- and six-year-old occasionally took initiative and called a Braden brothers meeting upstairs, where they discussed things they wanted to address at home. These important things were generally things they wanted to do or purchases they wanted to make. They knew enough to know they needed a plan before they approached their parents. Kids learn a lot by watching!
Jesus was a pretty fine educator. He had no advanced degrees, but he knew what was in a man. He did a lot of storytelling and demonstrated a life well lived. The disciples followed him around, and he never missed a teaching opportunity. Occasionally, Jesus would send the boys out for some field work and when they came back, they usually realized they had some deficits in both their understanding and in the execution of their mission. Over time they paid better attention when Jesus taught them.
In the book of Acts we quickly discover that it is “go time” for the disciples. However, they needed one more step of preparation to launch the Lord's game plan. Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them. If they were going to do the work of Jesus in the world, they first needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. What an amazing gift Jesus gave his followers. He doesn't leave us unequipped; he fills us with resurrection power through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
And just like you wouldn't start a road trip without filling your gas tank, you certainly wouldn’t launch a worldwide Kingdom enterprise without first provided the power that would lead to God-sized impact.
When we read the Bible we don’t usually have every detail of every situation. The writers of scripture certainly gave us plenty, but the writers were not writing every word that every prophet, priest, apostle, or even Jesus said. I won’t make too much of this point but after Jesus told the apostles they were to be his witnesses, they basically stood there starting at the clouds after his departure. Two angels interrupted their stares and told them to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit, which Luke recorded that they did. But verse 14 of Acts 1 tells us one thing that they had they had finally learned from Jesus. They needed to not just sit around. They were led to pray.
Jesus modeled the importance of prayer all through his three years of ministry. And here in Acts 1 we discover that watching Jesus pray finally kicked in. The apostles and about 100 other followers decided that during their period of waiting, they would pray. The location of their prayer meeting was an upper room, according to Acts 1:13.
The last time they were together in an upper room, they experienced the gift of humble and generous kindness as Jesus washed their feet. And even after this kindness, they argued about who was Jesus’ favorite disciple. One of them betrayed Jesus, and the rest of them apparently drank too much wine because they couldn't stay awake in the garden prayer meeting. But not this time! They went to the upper room and started a prayer meeting without even being asked.
Their prayers resulted in choosing another apostle to replace Judas. And as they continued to pray over the next days, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and the church was born. As we read the rest of their work in Acts and the epistles, they never let go of the desire to pray. Prayer changes us. Prayer changes the environment. Prayer gives us focus. Prayer engages the very power of God into a situation.
If you are a follower of Jesus, you have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit, but don't forget to practice the important lesson the disciples learned at the feet of Jesus. Pray first, act second. And remember to pray boldly!
Father, thank you for sending Jesus to rescue and deliver us from our sins! Jesus, thank you for transforming our lives and showing us how to pray. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who now lives in us. Today we pray for the boldness of the apostles as we seek to share the good news of Jesus with those around us. Holy Spirit, continue to transform our minds that our thoughts and our actions might bring glory to you and change to the world. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Acts 1 and 2 ESV
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