Waiting on God

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. – John 14:12-14

One of the truths in the Bible that perplexes many people is the promise from Jesus that ‘whoever believes in [Him] will do the works that [Jesus had] been doing’. Is there a reason that we don’t see many of the things Jesus and His disciples were doing? Was His supernatural power only for a time and now there is no need for it?

The essence of the issue can be found in Acts 1 when Jesus was talking with His disciples, ‘“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.’ (Acts 1:4 emphasis added) In Luke 24:49 Jesus says, ‘but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’

In our American culture we have a hard time waiting for anything. We are a fast food culture, we want to be stimulated emotionally and mentally as much as humanly possible. Everything we could need or want is right at our fingertips and available instantly. We don’t even have to leave our homes anymore, we can get everything delivered to us.

That makes waiting on God counter cultural and counterintuitive. There’s too much work to be done and too much uncertainty in what God will accomplish.

However, waiting on God is also the only way for true life, freedom, and power to be ours. All of the great and influential Christians in history spent significant time with God before and/or after they did their work.

There is no time table for the power of God to manifest itself in you, but the Word of God never comes back empty. Wait.

Are you willing to wait on God to speak in and through you?

Prayer:
Jesus, you promised us that we would be doing the works you did and even more. Forgive us for wanting your blessings without wanting to spend time with you. Help us to know the sweetness of your presence and may we be known as people who have been with you. In Your name we pray. Amen.