WAIT ON THE LORD

Time with Jesus - Monday, 10 December 2012

Hi all,

Today’s meditation is about waiting on the Lord. It’s something we are encouraged to do in God’s Word. However, we really have no alternative. He won’t make a move until He is ready. We need to learn to cope with this.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Monday, 10 December 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	WAIT ON THE LORD
Do you remember asking the question when you were little, “How many more sleeps ‘til Christmas”? How about when your children asked the same question? Do you remember counting down the days? Later in life it became something like, “How many days until the end of term?” or “How many days until the wedding?” I remember that so well? As a 14 years old, I travelled from Port Elizabeth to Vereeniging on the train. The train left PE at about 19h00. The train journey was fun. We were up and messing round for all the next day and arrived in Vereeniging Station at about 04H30 the following day. The journey seemed to take an eternity. But the SAR food was wonderful. The stewards would serve meals in the Dining Car. They had learned the art of swaying with the motion of the train and very seldom was anything spilled or broken. I’ll never forget the cutlery. Big heavy knives, forks and spoon stamped SAR. The cups, saucers and plates had a similar identifying pattern. I particularly remember the small coffee cups. You don’t see this size all that often these days. I remember an unsuccessful effort to get the entire cup into my mouth. I was never successful. I wonder what the other passengers thought about these schoolboys and their pranks? Waiting for things back then didn’t seem to be half as difficult for us as it does now. We know that the perception of the passing of time is relative. As someone pointed out many years ago, ten seconds sitting on the hot plate seems much longer than ten minutes spent talking with a pretty girl. But time definitely has a relative concept to all. As a schoolboy, a month seemed like a lifetime. For Phyllida and me, the years slip by at breakneck speed and seem to fly past more quickly with each successive year. It’s a bit like the old song from Fiddler on the Roof, Sunrise, sunset / Sunrise, sunset / Swiftly fly the years - One season following another / Laden with happiness and tears. These lyrics were sung by the women with a poignancy we can almost feel. And why not? Our life here is so short. As the Psalmist, probably David, wrote, 11 My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass. Psalm 102:11 NLT One “sneeze” in eternity and we are gone. But not the Lord. He is timeless, infinite and changeless. He can “afford” to wait. He is never in a hurry. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is at the beginning and the end. Both instants are the same for Him. Peter tells us, 8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 2 Peter 3:8 NLT The point is, He will act when everything is ready; in His own good “time”. We have no other choice but to wait for Him. Waiting gives us an opportunity to exercise patience. Grab it now! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			1 "On my bed night after night I sought him Whom my soul loves; I sought him but did not find him. Song of Solomon 3:1 NASB 1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for your sins have brought you down. 2 Bring your confessions, and return to the LORD. Say to Him, "Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer You our praises. Hosea 14:1-2 NLT 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. 16 So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:13-17 NLT 14 Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. Psalms 27:14 NLT 26 It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:26 TNIV 7 Won't God give his chosen people justice when they cry out to him for help day and night? Is he slow to help them? Luke 18:7 GW For the choir director; according to Jeduthun; a psalm by David. 1 My soul waits calmly for God alone. My salvation comes from him. 2 He alone is my rock and my saviour-my stronghold. I cannot be severely shaken. 3 How long will all of you attack a person? How long will you try to murder him, as though he were a leaning wall or a sagging fence? 4 They plan to force him out of his high position. They are happy to lie. They bless with their mouths, but in their hearts they curse. Selah 5 Wait calmly for God alone, my soul, because my hope comes from him. Psalms 62:1-5 GW	Waiting for the Master. I wonder what it means. Is it lying on the bed and pondering our dreams? Is it like a lover, longing for her mate, Thinking of the glory they had on their last date? Is it like a traveller, waiting for the train, Hoping that it’s punctual and isn’t late again? Is it like an athlete when the training’s done. “On your marks, Get ready. Where is that starter’s gun?” Is it like a woman waiting to give birth, But that nine month interval’s the longest time on earth. Is it like a family whose men folk went to war, Fearing for they safety. Will they come home once more? Is it like a faithful pet at his master’s tomb? Hoping that he’ll see him. Will he be coming soon? Is it like a mother sitting by the bed Of her infant daughter. Her face all stained and red Is it going to happen? “Lord, let her survive. Lord I will do anything to take her home alive!” Is it like a murderer in the condemned cell. Thinking in an hour or two he’ll be consigned to hell? Yes, it could be all of them. It also could be none. It could be the certainty that when the time is done Jesus will embrace them and they will hear Him say “My good and faithful servant, you’re here with Me to stay!” All of us have been there in a scenario. Muttering and grumbling, “The time is going slow”. “When is He arriving? It’s getting very late. I would have done the washing if I’d known I’d have to wait!” We all have a problem understanding time. We talk of punctuality. But Jesus Christ Divine Is not in our dimension the way we understand. There’s no “time” in eternity. So anything we’ve planned May not be in the sequence which we anticipated. The last is first. The first is last, This cannot be equated With Father God’s priority. And He will only act When all of His requirements are an established fact. So if we’re sitting waiting and champing at the bit. A little word from Jesus. “I think it’s time you quit!” Jim Strickland  Written 10th December 2012