Wait for the promise of the Father.

Acts 1:1-8, In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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 end of the earth.”

Jesus promised that He would not leave us as orphans when He went to the Father; He would send another comforter. The disciples were told to wait for this promise to be fulfilled. There was a purpose to the power, to take His good news to the all the world. They were to wait and then move under His power. Sometimes we get this out of order, and try to move everything by our own power. When we wait upon Him, seeking to know Him better, spend time in study and prayer, He will empower us to do His will in a way that we can never do on our own!

We wait upon You; empower us to do Your will by Your Holy Spirit, O Lord!

ESV Lectionary