Dear Friends,
Waiting. We do it more than we like. With each passing moment our mind calculates the productive things we could be doing. After all, time is money, right? We don’t have time to wait. We gotta get going! What good can come out of waiting?
If we examine the Scriptures, God has plenty of wisdom about waiting – in fact a lot more than it does being productive! As I considered the importance of waiting, it also made me wonder why we are called to wait. Some of the justification seems to be because God works even in the times in between our “frantic, productive business”. It’s as though God, who sees all that we say and do, is saying, “I am with you – even in the midst of the present time and well into your next task at hand. Look for me – yes, even there!”
What are you in between? Is God there? Do you see Him at work? The Old Testament has numerous references and most of them involve us waiting on God. In the New Testament, Jesus told His disciples to “wait” for the promise of the Holy Spirit. And, of course, God was faithful to His Word; He delivered.
Our next question to ponder might be, “Should we try to create situations that allow us to wait on God, or is it only made known to us as a result of challenges where we feel ourselves spiritually being poured out, that we are becoming an offering for Christ and we are often unwilling to undertake?
I’ll be realistic. I don’t go out of my way to create scenarios that cause me to wait. Scripture though seems to point to that as being what Sabbath is all about. It is a time for us to reflect. Unfortunately, I do not take time regularly to count my blessings; to consider the needs of others above my own; or to wonder about the will of God in all of my hectic “racing around”. On the other hand, when I rest and take a day off, ironically, I have a higher chance of being renewed in my waiting.
All this to say that last weekend, our family did some creative loafing. With little on the agenda, it was a very nice “Sabbath”. It went against the grain of being productive. We also had to be very creative and purposeful about this and the result was that it was more fun than we have had in a long time.
Next time you find yourself waiting (intentionally or unintentionally) forget being productive, strike up conversation, and “consider things not on earth, but heavenly things.”
Grace and Peace,
Mark
Ps. 40 verse 1 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me
and heard my cry.”
CHURCHWIDE CAMPING TRIP
@ Big South Fork / October 8 – 10
COME TO THE PLANNING MEETING
ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
at 5:00 p.m. in Room 232
Please pray for our Pastor Nominating Committee who are waiting on the Lord’s direction; and for the pastor who is awaiting the call from our Session.
YOUNG ADULT
Sunday School Options
(Begins at 9:30 a.m. in Spitzer Bldg.) Young Couples Foundations Class studying Colossians 4 with Dr. Richard Smith and in the Foundations Class we study “From Books to Scripture” led by Dr. Bruce Lancaster
