01/04/2012 - The privilege of the obedient

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These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Acts 1:14

During the forty days after resurrection, before The Lord went back to heavens, Jesus showed up to many people. In one of those moments over five hundred people saw Him resurrected (I Corinthians 15:6). They were greatly privileged for seeing The Everlasting King in His resurrected body. Next He got His disciples together in a mountain to hand out His last instructions: He commanded them to stay in Jerusalem till they were covered up with the heavenly power from Above. Then He was lifted up into a cloud which wrapped Him up before them (Acts 1:4-9).

Out of those over five hundred people, many were busy with “more relevant” activities. Most of them were probably businessmen who had given any excuse for not being able to always be present in the upper chamber, “well, they had to take care of their enterprises!”; and people who were busy at arranging for their wedding ceremonies; some were about to go on a trip; others had to look after their cattle among other duties. Even for fair and legal reasons they missed the great experience of becoming the first ones to receive the baptism of The Holy Spirit. What a loss!

However, a hundred and twenty people stood firm, with one accord, in obeying The Word of our Master and they did not overlook the divine command (Acts 1:15). Today God speaks into many hearts, but only few of them are willing to fulfil the commandment. The excuses might sound good and legal from a human point of view; yet, the truth is that the divine plans are never to be left aside or postponed. The work of God must always be a priority in our lives.

It does not matter if The Most High sends an extremely well-reputed and prosperous businessman to the poorest shanty town on earth to speak about the divine love towards a miserable poor man. However poor they might be, they are worthy of our prompt service on their behalf. The point is that, apart from being someone like us, the command did come from The Lord of the lords, The King of kings and for that reason that must become our duty indeed. Those who fulfil what has been commanded to them, by all means, please God. The joy of The Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

That group of obedient people spent many days serving The Lord with prayers and supplications. Their work went beyond saying nice words to Him, but they were engaged in planting seed that, later on, produced a great harvest for The Kingdom of God and, consequently, for them and for us as well. When the time was due Jesus paid them a visit. What a privilege they had of taking part in the birth of The Church of Christ on earth!

Undoubtedly, most of them went adrift in the end. Paul states that there were over five hundred brothers who saw Jesus on one go. Where did they go? What would they be doing away from the divine plan for them? Watch out! If you do not fulfil what is being commanded to you, you will also be lacking the privileges that only the faithful ones can enjoy.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares