Why Do You Wait? (Acts 22:16)

 


Thursday, 28 August, 2025


Psalms 143; 146

1 Kings 1:32-53

Acts 21:40-22:16


Observance: Augustine of Hippo, bishop and teacher (d. 430)


Why Do You Wait? (Acts 22:16)


And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptised and wash away your sins, calling on his name.


Pondering the mind of God can get pretty overwhelming. Consider our situation with the church here in Brisbane. Once upon a time we were opening five new churches a year. Now we close them faster than that. What is God saying to us? Should we be content with “managing decline”?


There is a sense of confident urgency in the early church that should rouse us into action. St Paul did not care that it had been prophesied he would be chained should he continue to Jerusalem. And when he was attacked by the mob, he probably just shrugged his shoulders and thought “here we go again”. How many action movies finish with a big fight scene, where the hero seems to be losing until finally he discovers some new inner strength, stands up beaten and bloodied, and wins the day? And here in today’s second lesson we have the apostle doing the very same thing.


What kind of mindset did St Paul have, to get up in front of everyone and ask them “why do you wait?” What kind of mindset do we have, that we are content to say to ourselves “let us just wait?” We have all the power of heaven and earth entrusted to us by the Lord Jesus to go and make disciples in his name. Why do we wait?


Why do you think the apostles won so many souls for Jesus? Why do you think we are not?


Lord Jesus Christ, you are the salvation of the world and you have given us everything necessary to win the world for you: give us a fresh breath of your Holy Spirit, that we may be roused from our sleep, and go into the world, confident in your victory.

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