Acts 1:1-5
Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
During the holidays, I read a book called Two From Galilee by Marjorie Holmes. This little novel centered on Mary and Joseph and all of the controversy that surrounded not only their betrothal, but most certainly Mary’s pregnancy and the weeks and months that led to the birth of Jesus. It’s a great story, and Ms. Holmes does a great job of giving us insights into the lives of Mary and Joseph’s families… the religious laws and cultural customs of the day… and the waiting.
Waiting seems to be a frequent theme in the Bible. Joseph waited for Mary… and Mary waited for the birth of Jesus. Often in the Old Testament, we read where David, Moses, Abraham and others waited on a word or sign from the LORD. Mary, the mother of Jesus and others waited at Calvary as Jesus was crucified… and Mary Magdalene and others waited near the tomb after His body was placed there.
We spend a lot of time in life waiting. We wait on graduation from high school… and some wait again to finish college and graduate school. We wait on a wedding date, and the birth of our children. We wait for a call to say we got the job… or the house. We wait for loved ones to return from war… and we sit and wait with those who are dying. And let’s be honest, many of us are not very good at waiting. We lack patience… and faith. Even when we know that the day is coming when everything will be fulfilled, we have trouble trusting the promises and believing that it will truly arrive.
So it should come as no surprise that we have trouble waiting on the LORD. We have trouble waiting on His timing… and believing that He really hears our requests and plans to make good on His promises. But we have so much evidence that He does exactly what He says. The Bible is filled with one example after another where God made a promise to His children… and delivered. We ought to know by now that God keeps his promises… and when He tells us to wait, it’s with good reason!
I don’t know what you are waiting on these days, but I do know this… whatever God has promised you, He will bring. If you are waiting on healing…it’s coming. If you are waiting on rescue from personal or financial struggle, a relationship conflict, or a sense of peace and calm…hold on. The God who gave His only Son to save us from our sins… the same God who makes His Holy Spirit available to dwell in our hearts each and every day… will not keep us waiting forever.
Jesus’ teachings and instructions were a lot for His apostles to absorb in the forty days before his ascension into heaven. The words of the angel to Mary…that she - a virgin - would bear a son who would be the Savior of the world…were incredibly mind boggling. The promise of Eternity in heaven seems almost unfathomable to me. But I know that this promise is true… because I have seen evidence already of God’s faithfulness to keep His promises. And so I wait on the LORD… for His guidance, His direction, and His blessings and His constant care. Won’t you wait with me?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label waiting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label waiting. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 6, 2011
John 16:19-22
Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, "Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, 'In a day or so you're not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me'? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You're going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You'll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.
"When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there's no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you'll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You'll no longer be so full of questions.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Sometimes I will tell Timothy, “You will see me again in two ‘night-nights’.” He nods as if he understands, but to a 2-year-old, the concept of time means nothing. "In a minute” seems too long for little children. When you say, “Hold on a second,” you might as well have said, “Give me three years.” But when I see Timothy again, he runs to me with open arms as if no time has passed.
For us, a lot of time periods seem long and difficult to endure. It is hard for us to wait a day/week/year for the things we are anticipating… and waiting years for something seems almost impossible – especially if we are talking about seeing loved ones again who have passed away. Think about soldiers who go to war. Imagine how hard it must be for their families to wait for them to return. But once they do, the time seems to dissolve into the joy of being reunited.
This is how Jesus is describing the time with Him to His disciples. Of course, for those of us who have never physically seen Him, this concept is somewhat different. But still, as we grow in our relationship with Jesus, it seems that we often become more eager to physically SEE Him… and the wait becomes challenging. I see this a lot in older people like my grandmother and her friends at the Assisted Living Facility… many who have told me, “I have prayed to die. I’m ready to go home.”
I don’t know what you are waiting on today, but I do know that Jesus is with you, whether you physically see Him with your eyes or not. Maybe you are counting the days until graduation, a big date, the playoffs, or your wedding or a big move. Maybe you are waiting on the birth of a child… or you are either caring for someone with a serious illness – or you are sick and know that your time on earth is coming to a close. Whatever you wait for… whatever you anticipate… Jesus is with you. His Holy Spirit can nurture you and guide you… He is ready to comfort you and fill your heart with strength, courage, and patience.
This is a passage of hope. This message from Jesus should make us confident and joyful… knowing that Jesus is with us now – and that the day we DO see His face will be amazing. All of the time we spent in trials, challenges and waiting will fade quickly away, and we will only know the sheer joy and jubilation of being in His presence. Meanwhile, we have work to do… a purpose to fulfill for His glory in this lifetime. I don’t know what your purpose is, but God will show you if you will just ask… and listen.
I pray that this makes the waiting easier. I pray that today you are encouraged in whatever situation you face. Realize that you are not alone. Take heart in the presence of the Holy Spirit, and let Him fill you with peace and comfort. Ask God to give you patience and peace, as you wait for the day when your joy erases every speck of anticipation and He answers all of your questions.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, "Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, 'In a day or so you're not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me'? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You're going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You'll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.
"When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there's no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you'll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You'll no longer be so full of questions.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Sometimes I will tell Timothy, “You will see me again in two ‘night-nights’.” He nods as if he understands, but to a 2-year-old, the concept of time means nothing. "In a minute” seems too long for little children. When you say, “Hold on a second,” you might as well have said, “Give me three years.” But when I see Timothy again, he runs to me with open arms as if no time has passed.
For us, a lot of time periods seem long and difficult to endure. It is hard for us to wait a day/week/year for the things we are anticipating… and waiting years for something seems almost impossible – especially if we are talking about seeing loved ones again who have passed away. Think about soldiers who go to war. Imagine how hard it must be for their families to wait for them to return. But once they do, the time seems to dissolve into the joy of being reunited.
This is how Jesus is describing the time with Him to His disciples. Of course, for those of us who have never physically seen Him, this concept is somewhat different. But still, as we grow in our relationship with Jesus, it seems that we often become more eager to physically SEE Him… and the wait becomes challenging. I see this a lot in older people like my grandmother and her friends at the Assisted Living Facility… many who have told me, “I have prayed to die. I’m ready to go home.”
I don’t know what you are waiting on today, but I do know that Jesus is with you, whether you physically see Him with your eyes or not. Maybe you are counting the days until graduation, a big date, the playoffs, or your wedding or a big move. Maybe you are waiting on the birth of a child… or you are either caring for someone with a serious illness – or you are sick and know that your time on earth is coming to a close. Whatever you wait for… whatever you anticipate… Jesus is with you. His Holy Spirit can nurture you and guide you… He is ready to comfort you and fill your heart with strength, courage, and patience.
This is a passage of hope. This message from Jesus should make us confident and joyful… knowing that Jesus is with us now – and that the day we DO see His face will be amazing. All of the time we spent in trials, challenges and waiting will fade quickly away, and we will only know the sheer joy and jubilation of being in His presence. Meanwhile, we have work to do… a purpose to fulfill for His glory in this lifetime. I don’t know what your purpose is, but God will show you if you will just ask… and listen.
I pray that this makes the waiting easier. I pray that today you are encouraged in whatever situation you face. Realize that you are not alone. Take heart in the presence of the Holy Spirit, and let Him fill you with peace and comfort. Ask God to give you patience and peace, as you wait for the day when your joy erases every speck of anticipation and He answers all of your questions.
©2011 Debbie Robus
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