Tag: waiting

Waiting with Anticipation

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Today we see Zechariah returned home, Elizabeth becoming with child and the fulfillment of God’s promises to them. Luke 1:23-25  “When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

God had granted Elizabeth the desire of her heart- a child. Being older, she was careful with her health and stayed in seclusion. Scholars are not sure why she did this but it allowed her time to honor God, worship him and revel in the miracle God had brought into her life. Her life had been one filled with disgrace due to barreness. I can’t even imagine the joy that possessed her with her pregnancy and the loss of her shame. She undoubtedly looked forward to the child and what God would do in and through him.

The attribute that I chose for today is Righteous. God is right in all He does. He has always been right and always will be right. His Words and actions are right. God’s timing for Elizabeth and Zechariah to have a child that would be the forerunner to Jesus was fixed by Him. So that it would be a special child of great significance, it needed to be long awaited and desired. God knew the love and devotion that John would receive from Elizabeth and Zechariah as their longed for child. He would need all the love and nurturing that they could give. I don’t know about you but when I wait for something a long time, it seems all the more precious. I cherish what I waited for and praise God over the rightness of His timing in my life.

During this waiting time, Zechariah could not speak. That would have added anticipation to their wait as they knew God had something special for both of them when the child arrived. I’m sure that Zechariah’s waiting time turned his doubt to belief that resulted in praise when the child arrived.

Do you doubt the rightness of God’s plan for your life? I know we all have times like Zechariah that we question God. The verse I claim when doubting the rightness and timing of God’s plan is Jeremiah 29:11. “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I know that God keeps His promises and has plans that are for my good and His glory. God’s plans are perfect and right. Remember He is righteous and we can trust in Him always. Psalm 116:5 “The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.” God’s rightness, grace and compassion are without limit. How fortunate are we to be a child of His!

Linda

Waiting with Purpose

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All part of living Fearlessly for Jesus is learning to use your wait time purposefully. See how the Apostles led the way….

How do you make use of your ‘waiting’ time? Jesus had given the disciples directions to return to Jerusalem and wait for the gift the Father had promised. After witnessing Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, these level headed men and women did exactly what Jesus asked. They retuned to Jerusalem to wait. They did not know how long it would take but they obediently followed Jesus’ directive to wait. Acts 1:12-14 “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. “

Led by Peter, the disciples decided to take up business and find a replacement for Judas. Judas had betrayed Jesus and was dead at his own hand. In Acts 1:18-19 Peter gives some of the gory details of his death and then laid criteria for choosing Judas’ replacement while they waited. Acts 1: 21-22, “So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” Peter felt that the new apostle must be someone who had been with Jesus from his baptism by John to his resurrection. At this point in time, their own testimony to having actually seen the events which had taken place was of upmost importance for them to be taken seriously by those they witnessed to about Jesus, His power, His resurrection and message of redemption. So, they nominated 2 men, Justus and Mattias. They prayed and then cast lots. Mattias was chosen.

What can we learn from these events? We need to seek to be fruitful in our waiting. We don’t want to just waste time when we could be praying, studying, fellowshipping, etc. The disciples were organized and recognized the need for someone to replace Judas. How do you spend your waiting time? I am impressed and encouraged that even in this uncertain time the disciples were about kingdom work. They saw to it that their group was ready for whatever God had in store for them. Let us take a lesson from the disciples and when we have ‘wait’ time, turn to Him in prayer. Ask Jesus how best to use the time to accomplish the most for Him and to be ready.

Linda

Holy Week, Saturday, All is quiet!

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Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb by his friend Joseph of Arimathea.  Scripture gives us some hints as to what Jesus was doing between the time of his burial and resurrection.  There is a lot of debate by scholars on the subject, but it is agreed that Jesus was in Hades preaching and teaching.  Ephesians 4:8-10 speaks of Jesus descending and leading captives as he ascended into heaven.  1 Peter 3:18-20 speaks of Jesus preaching to spirits in prison. We can be assured that he was not in the tomb waiting around but doing God’s Work.

Why is scripture basically silent on this period of time?  Probably because it is of little importance to us as believers.  The gospel essence is the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  His power over death is so miraculous and life giving that our focus needs to be on His victory and our resulting redemption.  We also know that Jesus was always about His Father’s business.  “Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I , too, am working.”  John 5:17  God always has a purpose and a plan, and Jesus was always doing the Father’s work.  So on this silent day we can ask ourselves, Am I doing what God wants me to do?  Am I using the time God has given me to pray, study, witness and do good things for others?  Quietly think about God today as you prepare for Resurrection Sunday.   Know for sure the truth of Isaiah’s ancient words:    How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”   Isaiah 52:7

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can wait upon Him with assurance and hope knowing my future is secure and all His plans are for my good and His glory!

Blessings as we await His resurrection,

Linda