Scripture: Acts 1:6-7
As a result, those who had gathered together asked Jesus, “Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now?” Jesus replied, “It isn’t for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority…”
Thought for the Day: Though I won’t deal with this part of the text for another couple of week, I wanted to lift it up today as I believe it depicts two world views – the world view of the disciples and the world view of Jesus. Though the disciples are continuing to grow into their understanding of Jesus and his mission, they remain stuck in a world of conquerers and victors. Jesus, on the other hand, is living in a world of redemption and transformation. I’m afraid the disciples still heard Jesus’ response through an old world lens – a lens that simply pushed back the date when God would become the old fashion military conquerer and victor over the armies of Rome. It is not about a calendar date. Rather, it is about Kronos time (the Greek word that describes God’s time or fullness of time) that is conceived or brought about by God. I would suggest that our old world views are constantly challenged by Jesus. We, like the disciples, may have convinced ourselves that we understand him completely, only to have him to stretch and redirect our vision to something new. In your own life, where might Jesus be pushing off an old world view and trying to replace it with something new?
Prayer: I must confess that I like where I am. It is comfortable, Lord. It is very comfortable. Yet if my current situation and perspective leave me stuck where I am unable to be a partner in your kingdom building, go ahead and knock some new world vision into me. Just be as gentle as possible, please. Amen.
TOMORROW’S MESSAGE
(A New Worship Series)
