The Promise of the Father

Pause & Reflect

Before Jesus' disciples began the mission He had given them, He told them to wait. They had walked with Jesus. They had heard His teaching. They had witnessed His resurrection. Yet Jesus did not tell them to rush immediately into ministry in their own strength. He told them to wait for the promise of the Father. The Holy Spirit was not an optional addition to Christian life. God never intended His people to fulfil His purposes through human determination alone. We often do the opposite. We plan first. Work harder. Depend upon our abilities. Push through exhaustion. Then, when our strength runs out, we ask God for help. Jesus teaches another way: dependence before activity. This doesn't mean passivity. The disciples would soon act boldly. But their activity would flow from God's empowerment. The same principle applies to us. Before asking, “What can I accomplish for God?” learn to ask: “How can I live today in dependence upon God?”