Often, the Lord does not set things according to our timing. We may feel the need is immediate and the time for the Lord to act is now, but the Lord does not. When He does not act in the way that we wish, how do we react? What does that do to our faith?
I’ve often wondered why the Lord charges His apostles to tell no one about some of the revelations and miracles he accomplished during His living. I would even go as far as to say it has been a stumbling block for me at times. The Lord's last charge to man before His ascension is to spread the "good news" to all nations. Why then, at many times during his living as recorded in the gospels, did he tell those closest to Him to stay silent?
I have been reading the New Testament this year. My current situation has afforded me much time to spend in the Lord's word, and it has been marvelous. I hadn't asked myself the question of the Lord's commanding silence out of his disciples in a long time. However, today I came upon this verse in Luke that I have read dozens of times. As I read, the Lord answered this question for me!
"And He said to them, But you, who do you say that I am? And Peter answered and said, The Christ of God. But He charged them and commanded them to tell this to no one (Luke 9:20-21)
The Lord and His ministry was spreading through his living and speaking. Peter correctly identifies Jesus as The Christ, and the Lord charges them to tell no one. Why? The next verse reveals the answer: "... The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." (Luke 9:22)
The Lord knew in those moments that if Peter and the rest of the apostles had gone out and spoken these things at that exact time, the events that needed to take place wouldn’t have. In the life study of Luke, Witness Lee writes: Apart from the death of Christ, there would be no way for sinners to be released. Apart from the resurrection of Christ, there could not be the recovery of the lost right to enjoy God. Christ’s death has released us from sin and from Satan.
The Lord has perfect timing. Even today, His work in and through the body is in accordance with his economy. We, like His apostles at the time, will not always understand the timing of his ministry. However, we can and should always praise Him, and take solace in knowing that the Lord's perfect timing always results in the furthering of his testimony here on earth. The Lord's goal in time is to dispense himself into us, day by day. We are not to be anxious about events or timing. We only need to see that the Lord is dispensing himself through every circumstance, and be open to Him!
The word is so wonderful.
Login To Leave Comment