The Acts community demonstrated a posture of worship as a means of reorientation to God by exemplifying the missional heart of Jesus through dispositional living. This posture, a set of normative habits, marks Christ’s character through daily faithfulness for God’s glorification. For example, as the disciples lived amid diversity, persecution, and uncertainty, they learned trust by faithfully waiting on the Lord. Christ’s vision for the disciples created a living witness to carry the heart of the gospel as they waited for the promised Spirit.

In Acts 1:8 (NRSV), Christ’s ascension shapes an incarnational community as he directs the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the promised Spirit comes: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The Lord instructed the disciples to wait, not to be fearful of the unknown, nor concerned with the specific time of fulfillment, but to just be in his presence. They learned to be living witnesses; in the lingering, a posture of worship formed. The community’s heartfelt devotion was not only a “prelude to Pentecost” but a continual part of the community’s life. For days, they worshiped and exalted the name of God; thus, this invisible power carefully operated during the community’s lives through patient endurance.

In fact, the early Christians embodied patience and believed that trusting God took time, a lifestyle of growing fruit by not controlling events, never hurried, nor forcing the result. Psalm 37:7 (NRSV) stills the heart to wait on the Lord: “Be still before the Lord; wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.” Through the waiting, the apostles’ hearts continued to remain attuned to the Spirit’s power through the proclamation of the gospel.

As we live and breathe on this earth, we wait every day: in traffic, in the doctor’s office, for our electricity to turn back on, news about our health, to feel better, for a check to arrive, a phone call from a friend or family member, or just waiting on the Lord. Waiting means to remain, stay put, and be present. If we do not wait, we can miss God’s highest opportunities for our lives and the epiphanies of transformation. Just like the disciples waited in the upper room, waiting is a commitment, an act of trust, the practice of slowing down and lingering in God’s pace of grace.

It creates openings and pauses in our daily routine to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit that otherwise would have gone unnoticed due to the chaos of life. This waiting helps to produce a healthy environment within our soul and remove the toxicity so that we can become living witnesses for Christ. Because of Jesus’ work, the Spirit’s power is infused within to operate freely in God’s divine grace. We never want to step out on our own but acknowledge that God is sovereign overall and trust that his timing is perfect.

A young mother of a one-year-old said goodbye to her spouse as he went off to war. The gripping fear and agony she felt was hard to put into words. All she could do was wait. People told her to just stay busy, and so she got busy with her tasks but even this only helped a little. As a Christian, she knew to surrender all to the Lord. She began to worship and pray and pray and worship so that all her swirling uncertainties moved to the focus of her dear companion and friend, Jesus. By learning to linger in the Spirit’s presence, she began to appreciate God’s pace of grace moment by moment as he provided for her journey ahead.

Reflection:

• Is it hard for you to wait, and why?
• How can you slow down and be present in Christ Jesus today?

Dear Father,

      Thank you for your perfect pace of grace. Help us to wait in your loving care by slowing down and lingering in the presence of Jesus. Holy Spirit continue to form in us a heartfelt devotion for your unending power so that we can become living witnesses for your name.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Blessings,

Dr. Caroline