Acts 1:6-8 (ESV)
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Why did the Book of Acts open in such a manner? We see a continuation of the gospel of Luke to this opening, reinforcing the ascension of Christ and the promise of the Holy Spirit. The title of the book already gives us the clue to its content. Here we see the full action of God’s appointed apostles to advance the work that the Lord had begun.
Slip in with me in these pages and hear their conversation aloud. A definite high priority to be tasked to the massive mission. The disciples are excited. Their eyes wide opened, eagerly inquiring for the kingdom to be restored. Do you sense their urgency? Yes, with a hint of impulsiveness too. Ah, do we feel the same? They blurted that question for us. Yes, we want to know it too. When is he going to restore the kingdom? We’ve heard the prophecy again and again. With global expeditious movements, we cannot help asking that very same question. The Lord retorts, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.” He didn’t mean that they were supposed to be indifferent to the prophecy. They had been sanctioned to the great task and empowered. Their focus was to get on to the work, and not worried about the final outcome. That portion is his. His sovereign plan and timing are beyond our prerogative. We do what we are asked to, which is to be his witnesses in every place just as the disciples were commanded.
Jesus rebuked Peter in John 21:21 when Peter meddled with the lot of his fellow brother. Jesus wanted Peter to be mindful of himself. Here, the assignment of the apostles kicked off with a focal point – be mindful of the given task. The baton is passed on from the early apostolic age to present age. Filled with the love of God and fueled with the love for God, generated with his power – now we are set to continue this apostolic pursuit. Bear in mind this duo – focus in our way and focus in our witness . Don’t meddle with others’ lot and don’t mess with God’s timing.
He knows best.
Let’s go…
Before you pray, ask:
● What am I focusing on today?
● What do I need to know before I can go and do what God asks of me?
● Why do I need to know?
● What does God want me to know? Is there anything I need not know?
I pray you will sit with the Lord and refocus as we await Pentecost.
© Pr Selina Khoo Lim, Gateway City Church, Penang. 2 May 2020.