“and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.””
Acts 1:11 ESV
Let us pray.
Lord Jesus, we ponder Your ascension into heaven before the disciples and the mix of emotions and hope that must have coursed through their hearts. Having feared Your death and the loss of everything that they held dear, to then see You alive and the hope of what was thought lost. You commissioned them to life and faith and to go and share the good news filled with the Holy Spirit. As they watched You leave knowing that this was not the end but the beginning of something great and incredibly difficult but the disciples did not leave in despair but with renewed faith.
Lord, we like the disciples from so long ago, we await Your return with the expectation that has built up over the multitude of generations. Each follower has had the hope that they would be alive when You come back to bring in the new creation. We see the pain and destruction, the debilitating sicknesses of those we love and we wonder when Lord Jesus will You come to bring peace to desperate hearts. Lord remind of all that You will do when. You return so that we will not lose hope. Though we face the realities of this moment, we are not anchored here or even in the past, but in You Lord Jesus who is eternal. We will not lose heart or lose faith in You for You are the one whose promises we trust, no matter what we face. Thank-you Lord for the hope and faith that You have instilled in our hearts and minds.
Lord we pray this all in Your all powerful name. Amen.
