More of the Story: Be Prepared
Then (the disciples) returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers. ~ Acts 1:12-14
Being ready isn't enough. You have to be prepared for a promotion or any other significant change. ~ Pat Riley
Your heart has to be prepared ahead of time through faith and prayer and grace and mercy and love and forgiveness so you can keep your heart open in hell when hell happens. ~ Richard Rohr
At this point the disciples had to know they weren't in for an easy ride.
They knew something was coming, but they weren't sure what.
They knew they didn't have the physical Jesus with them anymore, but they were still trying to figure out what it meant to be part of the Living Christ. (as we are still today!)
They had to wait for the Spirit to come.
So they returned to the place they knew. But this time it wasn't to wait in fear.
This time it was to prepare themselves through prayer and through being part of their community.
They couldn't know yet that what waited ahead of them was torture, imprisonment, and being put out of the very community they had been brought up in.
But they knew that the only way forward was together and in intentional prayer and hope.
Their waiting this time wasn't to hide from darkness.
Instead, it was to prepare for what it meant to live a resurrected life.
What are the ways you prepare your heart, mind, and strength to be part of God's holy community?
Prayer: Prepare my heart O Lord to serve you! Amen
Being ready isn't enough. You have to be prepared for a promotion or any other significant change. ~ Pat Riley
Your heart has to be prepared ahead of time through faith and prayer and grace and mercy and love and forgiveness so you can keep your heart open in hell when hell happens. ~ Richard Rohr
At this point the disciples had to know they weren't in for an easy ride.
They knew something was coming, but they weren't sure what.
They knew they didn't have the physical Jesus with them anymore, but they were still trying to figure out what it meant to be part of the Living Christ. (as we are still today!)
They had to wait for the Spirit to come.
So they returned to the place they knew. But this time it wasn't to wait in fear.
This time it was to prepare themselves through prayer and through being part of their community.
They couldn't know yet that what waited ahead of them was torture, imprisonment, and being put out of the very community they had been brought up in.
But they knew that the only way forward was together and in intentional prayer and hope.
Their waiting this time wasn't to hide from darkness.
Instead, it was to prepare for what it meant to live a resurrected life.
What are the ways you prepare your heart, mind, and strength to be part of God's holy community?
Prayer: Prepare my heart O Lord to serve you! Amen