The book of Acts serves as a bridge between the four Gospel books and the rest of the New Testament. It tells of the early progress of the gospel as Jesus' disciples took it from Jerusalem, throughout Judea, Samaria, and the rest of the Mediterranean world. It starts with the Gentiles responding to the Gospel and then shifts to Paul and his missionary journeys. Acts is a second book written by Doctor Luke (as I like to call him since he is presumed to have been a form of medical doctor), and was written as a letter to his friend Theophilus.
In verse 6 of chapter 1, Jesus and His disciples are gathered on the mount of Olives and the ascension of Jesus is about to go down, or up would be a better term, and the disciples ask Jesus another question. They ask "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" Now, Jesus had just recently rose from the grave, beat death and beat sin which is pretty pinnacle and climactic so if I were one of the disciples I too might be thinking a edge of your seat ending is about to happen. We can conclude from Jesus' answer that they may have been referencing restoration of a military and political kingdom that would drive out the Roman armies and restore national sovereignty to Israel. After all it is what the Israelites wanted, they wanted that temporal fix that a strong leader would bring. It's what they thought Jesus Christ was going to eventually do. But Jesus answers well by saying "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed 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 and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." So Jesus with his answer again points not to the temporary good of the disciples but to the long term good of everyone by explaining to them that they don't need to concern themselves with when the kingdom would be restored but they need to concern themselves with spreading the good news of the Gospel throughout the world. In other words, let God be concerned with His return and the kingdom, BUT in the meantime, there is work for the disciples and other believers to be doing.
Implications:
>How often do I ask questions of the Lord that are for my temporary good with selfish motives?
Asking those questions aren't necessarily wrong, but I must examine my heart to make sure that I am not asking with selfish motives. Rather that I am asking in the context of trusting the Lords sovereignty and His care over my life as well as for the furtherance of the Gospel. Even if I'm asking about daily things such as, should I take a certain job, which bill should I pay this month when I am short in the budget, should I begin a diet, what music should I listen to?
>Am I trusting that the Lord is fulfilling Romans 8:28?
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose?" Do I respond to others and my daily situations with that truth in mind?
>Am I serving the eternal needs of others or simply the earthly ones?
Certainly it is our calling and duty as Christians to serve others (Christians and non-Christians) in temporal, creative ways, but even more importantly we need to be serving others with the spoken truth of the Gospel and Christ's eventual return.
>Am I big picture oriented?
Do I routinely remember the big picture? When I pass through trials and live stressed and concerned, do I remind myself of the big picture of the Gospel? Christ wins! It's going to be okay. I just need to respond biblically in all situations. When I go through the joys of life, do I remind myself of the big picture of the Gospel? It's easy to become puffed up or forgetful of Christ when things are going well. Remembering the big picture of the Gospel is vitally important through joys and trials.
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