Waiting in Expectationfeatured

As we approach Holy Week, we wait expectantly to celebrate that early Sunday morning 2,000 years ago when Jesus defeated death, and the world was forever changed.  During Holy Week, we wait in anticipation of the joy of the resurrection on Easter Sunday. 

In general, I am not good at waiting.  I want things to happen on a timetable that works for me. I like to see the results I desire, and I don’t want to have to endure any hardships or pain while I wait. Holy Week is one week where I am pretty good at waiting.  I know the timetable. I like the results and Jesus suffered all the pain for me.  But what about the rest of the year?

God knows that my waiting skills need some help.  Perhaps yours do too?  The good news is that the Bible provides much needed wisdom for those of us who aren’t that great at waiting.  Lamentations 3:22-26 tells me that good things come from waiting on the Lord.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”

Because of Jesus’ resurrection we are people who not only experience salvation right now, but who also wait for our ultimate salvation – our eternity with God.  What does God want from us as we “wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord?” 

I don’t think waiting quietly means we kick back in a recliner, binge watch Netflix and wait to nod off to sleep and wake up in heaven.  God does not mean for us to be idle while we wait!

These verses provide a few insights on God’s intentions for us as we wait:

  • “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:1-2).
  • “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:9-11).
  • “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

While we wait expectantly for our eternal home, we are called to live sacrificially and intentionally.  We are to cling to God’s truth and fervently seek to love and faithfully serve God and others.

Waiting expectantly as God desires will manifest itself differently in your life than in mine.  What we have in common is our Eternal King and the promise that when our time of waiting is over, we will be with Him.

In the Epistle of Jude, the author’s prayer for his readers provides more insight into active and expectant waiting.  Substitute your name for “dear friends” and let this be your prayer during Holy Week and in all the weeks to come.

“… dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life” (Jude 20-12).

 

About the author

Sharon Collins

Thanks for visiting Becoming His Masterpiece! I write Christian devotionals to accompany my abstract paintings. In reality, I am just the hand that holds the brush and taps the keyboard. The Creator of all things is the true author and painter. I hope this site will bless you while on your life long journey to Becoming His Masterpiece. That journey begins when we say YES to Jesus Christ.

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