How to wait

After the strange time where Jesus had risen from the dead but not yet ascended into heaven, he told his followers: “Wait,” and I’ll send you a helper.

The great commission to go everywhere and share the good news was put on hold.

And so they waited. Day after day. But during that time, they were not idle.

Instead, they were “with one accord,” and they “devoted themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14).

In other words, they spent their time focusing on unity and direction. What’s interesting is that the two can hardly be separated.

In John 17, several weeks before this, and on the night before the crucifixion, one of the key things Jesus prayed was that his followers would have unity.

It was only then, after this conscious and focused effort that the greatest gift God has ever given to his people–that is, himself–came.