Until you have been clothed (Dan Wells)

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“But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)

 ‘Stay at home’ is a message we have heard a great deal lately. It’s been an important and life-saving message during the coronavirus pandemic. But it hasn’t felt like a positive way forward, has it? ‘Stay’ does not sound like progress. It sounds like pausing, stalling, waiting, and waiting never feels pleasant.

But for the disciples after Jesus’ ascension, and for us too, ‘stay’ was a vital way forward. They needed to stay until the Spirit had been given. They needed to stay until they had been given supernatural power from on high. They needed to stay until they had what they needed to go.

We like to get on and get moving most of the time. But sometimes we can move so quickly that we aren’t prepared for what God is calling us to do. We need to stay until God has clothed us with the power we need. Otherwise we will rush into what’s ahead without the power and presence we need to pursue God’s purposes. We need to stay until we are ready.

We also need to stay because that is where God has placed us. Those disciples were called to be witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection. They would travel far and wide with that message. But the message was to start in Jerusalem. They needed to stay where God had placed them because that is where he needed them.

Sometimes God calls us to go. He calls us to leave all we have and travel to a new place with a new mission. He did so for Abraham. He did so for countless missionaries. He could do so for you.

But God can also call us to stay. Not because he doesn’t want us to work for the kingdom. But because he has placed us here for that very reason. Here is our mission field. Here is our harvest field. Here is our adventure. Here God will be at work.

God our Father, thank you that you give us all we need to live for you. Please help me not to rush into things until you have equipped me for your work. When you call me to stay, help me to know you have placed me here for a purpose. Amen.

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