09 16 08 WHY DO YOU STAND HERE?
“‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.’ After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven’.” (Acts 1:8-11 NET)

The disciples must have been devastated. Not only had they recently witnessed the brutal death of Jesus and no doubt feared what would be next politically, socially, and for their personal lives, but suddenly they heard news He was alive. They went to the tomb and saw it was empty. Jesus then appeared to them and even hung out with them for a while…just like old times! He began to give them even further instructions for the coming days of how they would travel and tell about Him all over the known world; only to leave them again, right from their midst in a cloud.

Yet the angels asked them >“WHY DO YOU STAND HERE staring into the skies”? You see, Jesus had given them as set out list of instructions. They were to stay together and receive power from God in the person of the Holy Spirit. He would be with them as they would face trials and resistance in representing the Risen Christ from Jerusalem, to Judea and the rest of the world. This ordinary, working-class, not-so-special group of people would be the initial thrusts of cross-cultural evangelism. Yet they stood staring…perhaps in shock once again that Jesus was gone. But they obediently went back to Jerusalem and went about God’s business, trusting Him into unknown territory.

What was their qualification? They knew the Risen Savior. They had a personal relationship with Him. They had invested their lives in Him and Jesus gave His all for them. They were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. They had their instructions from their God to go!

We are all qualified as believers to do His work. Yet many times, I look in the mirror and ask, “WHY DO YOU STAND HERE?” With all the need in this world, I ask you, “WHY DO YOU STAND HERE?” We are too qualified and there is too much need for us to just stand and allow others to do the work. I know for me, I simply will not allow God’s Spirit to take complete control. There is still too much doubt, too many worries, too little faith. I need to just use the power within me and be used. Whether it is finances, merchandise, sacrificing sleep, giving my time, or using old fashioned blood, sweat, and tears, I need to commit to do the work I was called to do and let God take care of the details. Pray for me as I pray for you. Let’s DO THIS!

“This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back…”