What You’ll Get

ByJim Stephens

Scripture:  Acts 1

7 He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. 8 What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”  (Acts 1:7-8 MSG)

As Jesus was preparing to leave Earth he took his close followers just outside Jerusalem to a favorite spot on The Mount of Olives and spoke with them face-to-face for the last time. They asked about the future – when and how things would happen. Jesus told them that they didn’t get to know the details, instead they were to get God’s Holy Spirit, who would show and tell them what they needed to know one day at a time and would empower them to do what each day required. “But Jesus! We want to know now!”

Things haven’t changed much! Our human nature still wants to know all about the future! We’ve got a lot more information now in the form of a written-out Bible and twenty centuries of church history, but we still don’t get to know a lot of the things that we want to know. And God’s plan and procedure hasn’t changed either! What we get is God’s Holy Spirit to guide us and empower us one day at a time.

Here’s what seems to work best for me at this stage in my journey of faith:

  • Keeping my relationship with the Father and with others around me clear and open. This involves confession, repentance, accepting Abba’s unconditional love. This also involves honesty with others, forgiving and being forgiven, and lots of grace!
  • Keeping my own heart and mind tuned to the Holy Spirit’s channel. For me this involves daily Bible reading, daily journaling, quiet time, daily prayer.

I encourage you to be intentional, experimental, and experiential. Discover your best way of tuning your heart and mind to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and power. When you learn something that works, offer your insight to others. Stay open to live and learn.

After all, “What we get is the Holy Spirit!”

Prayer:

Father, Thank you for sending us your Holy Spirit instead of a set of by-laws and a calendar of events. Thank you for showing us how to stay connected and keep the lines of daily communication open. Today I purpose to look and listen, and to believe and obey. Amen.