Wait for it…
We are not a people who like to wait. Yet waiting is a vital discipline of spiritual growth and maturity. Israel anticipated and waited for the Messiah for generations. Just a few days after the birth of Jesus, Luke introduces us to two Israelites who had waited their entire lives for the long awaited Messiah. Simeon and Anna waited with confident expectation upon Yahweh for this moment. And when Jesus' parents brought him to the temple on the eighth day Simeon's and Anna's hopes were realized! Luke 2:25 (Simeon) Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. Luke 2:38 (Anna) And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. How does Scripture instruct us to wait? We wait quietly, silently, and patiently! Lamentations 3:25-26 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Psalm 62:1 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. Psalm 62:5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. Knowing that waiting is a position of strength not weakness! Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! When everything in you says—"get moving, you got things to do—you’re behind", then perhaps the best thing you can do is the contrary…stop and wait. When we start running ahead of God we begin to take short-cuts that short-circuit and compromise our values and His Way. We settle for less than His best. Acknowledging that waiting may be more emotional and last longer than expected Psalm 69:3 I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. Recognizing that waiting clarifies/ intensifies our hope! Psalm 39:7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Waiting matures us. Waiting trains us. Waiting heightens our desires. Waiting raises awareness of dependence. Waiting clarifies our motives. Waiting tests and proves our commitment, devotion, and loyalty. Over the next couple of days you may see children ripping into the gifts for which they have been waiting, and when you do, REJOICE! It can be a reminder to you that great waiting leads to great joy! But quietly consider this...(without "hating on" the moment in front of you:) “Offer a young child the choice of having Daddy present Christmas morning with no gifts or having Daddy absent and a stack of gifts piled high and the child might choose the gifts. Only the mature value the blessing of presence over the blessing of presents.” (Larry Crabb, Pressures Off—p. 34) Waiting for the Lord is part of the Father’s method of eradicating our desire for blessing more than intimacy. As we mature we value presence over presents. Wait with great anticipation and confidence upon the Lord. His Presence is enough. His Grace is sufficient.
1 Comment
Lyndsey
12/24/2021 10:00:33 am
Valuing His presence over His presents. His presence is enough. That’s really good, John. Praying that’s true more and more each day.
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