What Are You Waiting For?

“What are you waiting for?”

Acts 22:16a (NLT)

There’s a time to wait, and there’s a time to act.  We need wisdom to know the difference.  God gave some specific instructions to Paul when he first encountered the risen Christ.  At first, he was told to go into a city called Damascus and wait for further instruction. Three days later a stranger named Ananias found him and gave him these instructions, “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and hear Him speak.  For you are to be His witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.”  (Vs. 14-15)

Paul must have sat there in a stupor, bewildered, and dazed by what had happened, trying to figure it out when Ananias looks at him and adds, “What are you waiting for?  Get up and be baptized.  Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.” (Vs. 16).  The waiting was over.  Paul had his marching orders.  It was time to act!  His life would never be the same! 

What about you?  What are you waiting for?  If you’ve never received Christ, now is the time.  Get up, commit your life to Jesus, and be baptized.  Have your sins washed away (not by the water) but by calling on the name of the Lord. 

If you have received Christ, you already have your marching orders.  You may not be called to be a vocational missionary and church planter like Paul, but you are called to bear witness to what Christ has done for you.  There are those in each of our spheres of influence who need to hear that God loves them and gave His Son for them.  If we don’t tell them, then who will? 

Ananias’ question “What are you waiting for?” reminds me of another question the angels asked the disciples on the Mount of Olives when they saw the ascension of Jesus.  “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring into heaven?” Acts 1:11 (NLT) Jesus had given them their marching orders, and then He ascended into heaven.  He’s given us ours, the waiting is over, and it’s time to act. Share His love with someone today and invite them to church this weekend.