2026 Easter Devotions
Monday, May 11
Acts 1:6-14
6 When [the apostles] had come together, they asked [Jesus], “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 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.” 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 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.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 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. 14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
“… “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” …”
From the beginning, folks have always wondered “When?” When will Jesus restore the kingdom to Israel? When will Jesus return to gather his sheep into his fold? When will Jesus come and make all things new? When will Jesus usher in the fullness of God’s kingdom? When? When? When?
Unfortunately, while scholars, would-be prophets, and prognosticators have sought to divine the secret of Jesus’ coming, he himself tell us that only the Father knows that time. In the meantime, Jesus declares, stop trying to determine the “when” and spend your time in the now as witnesses to my glory and power.
This is the time of the Church. Rather than speculation, we are to be engaged in proclamation. Rather than looking up in expectation, we are to be praising God in exaltation. Rather than anticipating the end of time and the world beyond, we to be celebrating this time that the Lord has given us to love and serve in the world.
Make no mistake, Jesus will come again. Until that time, rather than just waiting, we are to be actively serving our Lord as witnesses, servants, and lovers of all that God has made.
Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, and show us the way now. Remind me that I am called by You this day as a witness to Your love, Your peace, and Your glory in the world.