Monday Morning Devotion-December 3, 2018
The Wait
Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14
So now we must wait! The Holiday season is here. Christmas is just around the corner.
Well that corner is on a pretty long street especially if you are a child waiting on Christmas to get here. It is a time of great anticipation.
In fact, as we enter the Advent Season once again we are reminded about the reason for the wait. It's because waiting and faith go hand-in-hand. The first week of Advent points directly at the coming of Christ. That's right on the first Sunday of Advent, December 2nd our thinking is directed to the coming of, not Santa Claus, but of the Savior. We celebrate as we eagerly await the birthday of the Christ child. Signs will be given and people are to stay alert as they prepare for the big day.
So, the wait has begun. I'm sure you can remember those times as a child when it just seemed like Christmas would never get here. I mean how long can you be good? You've already made out that list and can just picture Christmas morning in your mind and finding those treasures under the tree.
Even as adults the wait can be wearying. You are just ready for Christmas to get here and get over with. Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. How about Mary and Joseph and that long tedious journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem with only a balky old donkey for transportation?
How about those three wise men waiting month after month, searching the skies for a sign, reading and re-reading all the writings of the prophets to make sure this birth was really going to happen?
How about old King Herod? He had heard the rumors. Maybe that's just what they were rumors, but you could never be too careful. Kingdoms had been overthrown before with much less muttering throughout the populace than there was about this new king being born.
Yes, waiting was hard on everybody, then and now!
So that is what advent is about. We have embarked on a period of waiting. So we must wait and keep the faith as we move forward.
While we wait it would be good to think about what we are waiting on God to do in our lives this year. What is our part? What is He calling on us to do?
Remember all the years of silence that God's people waited for the Messiah to come?
And they were surprised when He did come. A baby born in a manger. What could that baby do to relieve their oppression?
What will that baby do in your life and your family's life this year? That's where keeping the faith while you wait comes in.
And after all those years of waiting His people were rewarded. God's timing was different from what they expected. But, still He was faithful. He delivered on His promise in an even greater way that they could have imagined. "He gave his only Son that all who believed in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Top that! No way!
Some things you can do while you wait to make it enjoyable and strengthen your faith:
a) Share with family or friends things you are waiting for. How you would like for this Christmas to be better than ever.
b) Encourage others who may get weary of waiting or start to doubt how this Christmas is going to turn out because of relationships, or health or finances, etc..
c) Evaluate where you are in your relationship with God. How can that partnership become even stronger?
d) Pray. Good advice any time and in any situation. Ask the Lord to help you with the things you don't understand and are getting impatient with.
e) Express your faith in positive ways by doing fun and creative things with family and friends. ("Advent Devotional (Week 1) Faith". www.lifeway.com)
In the end, as always, your faith and positive thinking will bring you through.
And Christmas 2018 will be worth the wait.
Prayer: Father as we patiently await the birthday of the Christ Child renew our faith and may each day be happier than the day before. Amen!