23rd May 2020

Our Dear Brethren,

The quiet of the morning in our home reminds me of many early morning walks I used to take. These walks began out of necessity as I had to walk a mile to catch the bus. My family had moved to the next town over, but I insisted on continuing my education where it had began. This meant that on each school day over the next few years I would be walking alone. At first the silence was unsettling and monotonous as I walked the same steps day after day.

The Book of Acts in the Bible, in many ways, is an extension of the Gospel of Luke. The same author wrote both accounts, having spent time with several of the apostles of Jesus Christ. The introduction to this particular book gives us the small but significant detail that Jesus, after His resurrection, spent forty days with His apostles before finally returning to sit at His Father's right hand.

"The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:1-4).

Those forty days were probably pretty amazing for the apostles. Their Teacher continued to instruct them face-to-face. He walked with them a little while longer, but according to the plan, He wouldn't be staying with them as He had before. Jesus journeyed with them to a place just outside of Jerusalem. He gave them strict instructions to wait in the city itself until the Day of Pentecost at which time they would, for the very first time, be filled with the power of God.

Ten days were left between the time they last saw Jesus with their eyes and the coming Feast. We are at the beginning of this period of time ourselves. Depending on when you read this letter, we have about ten days until the Day of Pentecost has fully come. As we walk in this time of relative quiet, seemingly alone, are we focused on properly preparing ourselves for this upcoming festival which we have been counting down to? Where is our mindset during this time? Are we unsettled by the silence and monotony of each day as we wait for something to change? Have we begun complaining about our present situation, or have we patiently been waiting and preparing ourselves for the promise to come?

Jesus addressed His closest disciples one more time: "'It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven'" (Acts 1:7-11).

The words from the two angelic messengers were the subtle reminder from God the Father to the apostles to refocus their minds on their preparation to continue the work that Jesus had begun with them. They took the hint and returned to Jerusalem, praying together, encouraging one another, talking not only of what Jesus had taught them, but also of what would come next. "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers" (Acts 1:14).

My long and lonely walks began as just part of my daily routine which led one day into the next. Eventually I learned to appreciate the silence I found myself in. It gave me time to collect my thoughts, to pray to God, to reflect on my own actions and emotions, to make plans for my future. There are times in life when we need a bit of quiet waiting. How we use that time is entirely up to us. But let's take the example of the apostles of Jesus Christ who shared the same hope we have, who had the same Teacher we have, and who would soon be receiving the same Spirit of power and love and a sound mind that we have been given. Let's use these last days before the Day of Pentecost fully arrives to prepare ourselves through prayer, study, conversation, and encouragement. Let's prepare ourselves for the work that we are about to begin.

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe