Jesus has given up His life to ransom the souls of men, but death could not hold Him. Risen again, He promises a power that will come over His people.
Despite the joy that He is alive and interceding in the heavenlies on their behalf, heartache has...
In a chapter that most godly women flock to for advice on how to live as a daughter of Zion, there reads one verse that states that her husband sits amongst the elders at the gates. A place of prestige and renown. Mavy had always been proud of her husband. He was genuine, a people person, unlike herself who was much more secluded. He wasn't out of place amongst the men, accepted and well-liked. He often took Robert with him, teaching him the grace of adding useful speech, uplifting others. No one would know that Robert wasn't his by blood the way he mentored him. Samuel had been under his wing for some time, and Joel cared deeply for the young man, but his affection shone through for the boy who looked up to him as his father.
Mavy had never stopped them from going to the gate in all the time that she'd come to know and trust Joel with her children, to act wisely on their behalf. But now, things were different. Times were changing and not for the better. If they had thought things were dangerous while Jesus was with them, it was worse now. It was getting to the point it was not safe to say His Name in public. Wisdom quieted them as they waited on the promised power from on high.
"Beloved," Joel set his jaw, well knowing that she did have a point. "If we stay in secret hiding, the Jews will wonder even more what is up. It's better to blend in as much as we can, for as long as we can. Besides, we may find out the news."
"Peter said that the Lord has appeared to them," Robert piped up, "He and the others went fishing and the Lord came to them on the shore!"
"Yes, I heard that Robby, but it's not safe for either of you."
"Robert, you stay home and watch the women, I will go sit."
Robert nodded somberly. Joel was firm in his resolve. Mavy didn't even try to change his mind, her crestfallen expression her only protest.
Despite his bravado, he wasn't so sure he was comfortable with them alone in the house. "Maybe go with the others to the upper room. I will meet you there in a little while, alright?"
"Be safe darling." Mavy agreed, passing out cloaks to her children. She wasn't one to put herself out there, much more content to spend the day busy housekeeping, or engrossed in one of Joel's scrolls, but in times like this, there was safety in numbers.
Robert scrunched up his eyes until his nose wrinkled into a crease that would stay long enough to make him wonder if he has prematurely aged when the murmured prayers managed to accumulate into a mighty crescendo given the number of people crammed into the upper room. It was known that things had drastically changed since the resurrection of Jesus... and not for the better.
"Tarry," He had told the small gathering when He appeared, "Until the promise come upon you, power from on high."
No one knew what that meant but yet, despite the persecution on the rise, no one moved. Waiting. Watching.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
