Jesus' Ascension & Waiting On God

The disciples once waited in fear, but after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, they waited with joy and anticipation. What changed? In today's devotional we discover how worship, God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit can help us trust God while we wait.

Read Luke 24

After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples. But instead of rejoicing, they were startled and frightened. Even though Jesus had told them He would rise again (Mark 9:31), they thought they were seeing a spirit. Then Jesus began to speak with them, explaining everything that had to be fulfilled in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms. Luke tells us that Jesus “opened their minds to understand” (v. 45).

Jesus then instructed them to stay and wait for what the Father had promised—power from on high. After blessing them, He was carried up into heaven.

Now, instead of fear, the disciples responded with joyful obedience. What changed? I believe verses 52–53 reveal the answer: they worshiped Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and continually praised God in the temple. They were not simply waiting; they were waiting with joyful anticipation for God’s next move.

Waiting on God is not always easy. I tend to lose hope and wonder if God has forgotten me. But wouldn’t it be wonderful to live with that same joyful anticipation while we wait to hear from Him? So what does it take?

Like the disciples, we have the Word of God. And as God’s children, we have been given the same promised power—God’s Holy Spirit—to open our minds and give us understanding. In other words, we already have what we need!

So let us seek God’s will for our lives and offer Him praise, worship, and honor with joy, knowing and anticipating that “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:32 (ESV)

Let us also remember that as we wait and pray, the purpose of prayer is not to get our will done in heaven, but to get God’s will done on earth.

Bless the Lord with me! 

Teach children about the Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost.

And don't miss our newest Pentecost craft activity!


Copyright 2020 S.A. Keith

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Sarah Keith

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