“They all were continually united in
prayer, along with the women, including
Mary the mother of Jesus, and his
brothers.” Acts 1:14
Life brings challenges. There are situations
we can deal with those challenges
individually. But more often than not we
need help. Especially when we are
experiencing a corporate trial, something
that affects a group of us at the same time.
The circumstance above was the departure
of Jesus. This drew the disciples together.
This was a unique situation. It wasn’t that
Jesus was dead, gone, and unreachable but
rather that He was living in another place
requiring a different way to communicate
with Him. His physical presence made
talking to Jesus simple. But His departure
necessitated a spiritual connection. This was
altogether a new thing. One that would
require devotion and practice. They needed
each other to learn this discipline.
“They all were continually united in
prayer.” Do not imagine this as a typical
church prayer meeting with every eye
closed, and every head bowed as someone
prayed. No, they met for ten full days before
the Lord gave them His Spirit. That kind of
scene would have been unrealistic. Think in
terms of a continual spirit of prayer: seeking
to know God and His will. A desperate
prayer like Jeremiah spoke of…
“You will seek Me and find Me when you
search for Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13
Realize first, these devoted followers of
Christ Jesus were obeying His command:
Do not leave Jerusalem! His second
command was to “wait for the Father’s
promise” (the gift of the Spirit) But in their
waiting they were determined to seek the
Lord’s will and purpose. Therefore, they
prayed. They prayed often and repeatedly.
And quite likely they reminisced. They
shared stories, insights, experiences with
Jesus, and personal struggles. They laughed,
they cried, and they prayed long. And their
hearts were drawn tightly together as a
result.
God honored their obedience. God honored
their devotion to seek Him and His will in
prayer. God blessed them with the gift of
His Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
What challenge? What circumstance? What
difficulty will it take to draw us to be united
in prayer? A spirit of prayer desperately
seeking the Lord’s will and purpose? Has
not the world turned away from God enough
to move us? Are there not many who are lost
in our midst still? Do we have no burden for
their salvation?
Father, please forgive our neglect to pray
desperate prayers for your will and way.
Burdened by the thought….Bro. Sherman
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