Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

Waiting is never easy. Whether it’s for a job offer, a diagnosis, or a direction from God, waiting can make us feel powerless. It can be frustrating, scary, exhausting, and sometimes disheartening. I am sure that the disciples felt all these emotions and more during the days following Jesus’s resurrection. Acts 1 and 2 show us that when we wait on God, He not only provides what we need, but He transforms us for His purposes in ways we never imagined.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His disciples a clear promise and a powerful purpose: “But you will receive a power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This moment in Acts 1 sets the tone for the entire book – God's people, filled with the Holy Spirit, sent out to share His message.

Jesus instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem, and they obeyed. In the upper room, they prayed together, united in purpose, about 120 of them (Acts 1:14:15). Though they had witnessed Jesus’s resurrection, they still needed something more: the Holy Spirit, the very presence of God to dwell within them and empower their mission.

Acts 2 shows us the fulfillment of the promise. On the day of Pentecost, “all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4). This miraculous moment wasn’t just for show—it drew a crowd from every nation. People heard the wonders of God proclaimed in their own languages, and they were amazed.

Peter, once timid and afraid, stood and boldly preached the gospel. Sometimes, when we don’t know what to say to others, I think it’s okay to remember what Peter has already said to us. His words are a great template of how we are to profess the truth to others. He declared that Jesus, crucified by the people, had risen and been exalted to the right hand of God. That day, about 3,000 people were added to the number of believers (Acts 2:41). The early church was born, marked by devotion to teaching, fellowship, prayer, generosity, and awe at the work of God (Acts 2:42–47). They gathered together and broke bread with one another. This is exactly what we do in House Church every week. We gather with other believers weekly to share a meal and to learn more about what it looks like to truly follow Jesus, just like the early church we read about in Acts.

Acts 1 and 2 remind us that God has not called us to follow Him in our own strength. He gives us the Holy Spirit to lead, equip, and empower us to live and profess His love boldly. The same Holy Spirit who filled the early believers is in us today. Let us wait on God, walk in unity, and live as Holy Spirit-filled witnesses. The world still needs to hear, and we are still called to go.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
  
• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
  
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
  
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
  
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.