Tuesday, July 30, 2024  

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Today's Scripture
Acts 1:1–14

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers. (NRSV)

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Reflection

After about a half-mile walk they arrived in Jerusalem, where Jesus had instructed them to wait. The women, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, his brothers, and his disciples gathered in the upstairs room. As they waited for the Holy Spirit to empower and guide them, they entered into constant prayer.

What does it mean to be in constant prayer? In his 1535 book A Simple Way to Pray, Martin Luther passionately asserts that “prayer is an integral part of the Christian life.” He fervently advocates for prayer to be “frequent, bold, honest, and forthright.” He urges us to make the discipline of prayer “the first business of the morning and the last at night.”

As disciples, perhaps persisting in constant prayer means having our whole being always waiting and turned to God as the Holy Spirit guides us. I am blessed when my daily life is one of constant prayer, from the quiet of the morning through the challenges of the day to the rest of the night. And I am thankful when joining in constant prayer with fellow disciples as in unity we are emboldened and strengthened. I know that as my daughter lay dying, those gathered around her in constant prayer gave me the strength to see through the grief and be comforted and empowered by the always-present loving embrace of God.

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Prayer
God, empower me so that in my discipleship I am in constant prayer. Empower me to be “frequent, bold, honest, and forthright” in my prayers. Empower me to pray in unity with my fellow disciples. As we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, may we all live the life to which we are called. Empower us. Amen.

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Written by Sylvia Robertson, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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