29 December

Time is best spent waiting on Jesus

I. How must we wait?

A. By reminding ourselves of our role

John 1:12 - "To all who did accept him and believe in him he gave the right to become children of God."

1 John 3:1 - "The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God. And we really are His children."

Since we are children of God, there is no point for us in trying to know everything that's happening or that's suppose to happen because our Father knows what he is doing.

B. By trusting Him

Jn 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me."

Even the return of Christ must not trouble us because it is a day to be anticipated.

C. By patiently hoping

Like Simeon in Luke 2:25-35. Since it had been revealed to him that he wasn't going to die until he sees the Messiah, waited everyday as if he was always at the edge of his seat, wide-eyed, expectant, patiently vigilant. He is described as righteous and devout.

Like Simeon, we also know that Christ is coming. How must we wait?

II. What are we waiting for?

A. Our own room

Jesus has made a perfect place for us that's why we shouldn't feel too comfortable in this world. He made a perfect place for us, a room just for us in heaven. (Jn 14:2)

When the people betrayed him, stoned him and crucified him, they were telling him that he doesn't have room on this earth. There's no room for a prophet or a messiah in the world. Still Jesus made it a point to knock on our hearts (Rev 3:20). Do we have room for him?

B. Seeing a bridegroom

(Luke 12:35-37)

Watchfulness

35"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.

God will be so thrilled to find us eagerly waiting for him that he will take the form of a servant to serve us!

Imagine how a groom would be waiting so expectantly, with full anticipation, to the approaching bride. That's how the Lord will wait for us.

C. Having a heart like Jesus

Romans 8:17

17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Romans 14:8 "If we live, we are living for the Lordm and if we die, we are dying for the Lord. So living or dying we belong to the Lord."

Those who believe in Christ belong to God that when we find ourselves in heaven, something marvelous will happen. We find ourselves loving with a perfect heart, worshiping with radiant face, listening and talking to God as if our words are made of jewels. We will be like Jesus.

III. Are we ready?

"Is your trust, your attitude of dependence sufficiently stable to sustain you regardless?(....) Should your Lord be please to turn you into a Job, would He still be your Treasure and your Triumph? Don't let the answer slip off your tongue too easily. Think about the implications of that question to your own life, health, job and family. Should your Lord make you an Enoch, would you be reluctant to make that eternal journey?"

Titus 2:11-13

11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

As an engaged couple prepare for their wedding date, so must we when we look forward The Date when we get to be with the Father. We must be obsessed with it and must not let anything make us forget.