Bread of Life Devotional
By Mario Otero
"Jesus replied: “Now is not the right time for me to go but you can go anytime”John 7:6 (NLT)
The disciples were asking Jesus to come with them to the Jewish Festival of Shelters. This is how Jesus replied. This statement has greater implications than simply the historical ones. Of course Jesus physically replied to the question He was being asked by the disciples gathered around him. However His reply also transcends to us even today. The right time for us to “go anytime” is “now”! Understanding what the Word declares here is crucial in knowing what attitude we should have when facing challenges. In His Word God has already commissioned us to “go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). We also know that the Lord will be with us as we go (Matthew 28:20).
The Lord is waiting today to go with those who go to do the Lord’s work. How do we know when to go? In other words: how long do we have to wait until we go preaching the gospel and making disciples of all nations? The answer is in Acts 1:4-5 (Amp):
“And while being in their company and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised, Of which [He said] you have heard Me speak. For John baptized with water, but not many days from now you shall be baptized with ([placed in, introduced into) the Holy Spirit.”
In order to be able to go and serve the Lord one must have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is a recipe for disaster otherwise. Now you know that you ought to go because God has stated it in His word to do so. Effective service before God is one that is empowered from above. We receive power when we become the habitation of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). From then on we “receive power (ability, efficiency and might)”. The Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father to serve Him mightily. Is anyone wondering what to do as a Christian? The written Word of God gives us wisdom to know the will and the purpose of God for our lives and the whole world. The Holy Spirit gives you the ability to do it.
The first and final element of this divine cycle is our action. When our will is aligned with the will of God we can then press on towards God’s eternal reward. Will you today align your will with God’s and obey Him when He says “go”? Will you wait for the Holy Spirit to empower you to be able to go efficiently? If you are on God’s side the answer to both questions must be YES! If you are still wondering about either question why don’t you ask God the Father for His promise. Remember that all the promises of God in Christ are “yes!” and “amen!” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Therefore you can boldly come before your heavenly Daddy today and ask Him for the promised Holy Spirit. He will give you what He has promised for God is not a deceiver but always faithful.
Please pray this prayer with me today: Heavenly Father and beloved Abba (Daddy) I thank you for such divine purpose for our lives to go anytime to serve you in the nations preaching the Gospel and making disciples. I pray that today I will be introduced in the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus! Amen.
