Tags
1 John 4:4, 2 Peter 1:2-4, Christmas Ponderings #6, Colossians 1:10-12, Greater is HE that is IN US, Have we not known?, Isaiah 40:28-31, Wait upon the Lord
Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 07 Christmas Ponderings #6???
This may seem like a strange “Christmas Ponderings” topic but the thought hit me between the eyes and I’ve learned that if it hits me, it will probably hit others, so I’m going to share this brief word and pray that it will help and encourage each of us!
“Hast thou not known?
hast thou not heard,
that the everlasting God,
the LORD,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
fainteth not,
neither is weary?
there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power
to the faint;
and to them that have no might
he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths
shall faint
and be weary,
and the young men
shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the LORD
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings
as eagles;
they shall run,
and not be weary;
and they shall walk,
and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31
Let’s just walk through this and see what we can draw from God’s word to encourage, help, and strengthen us for the days before us.
What’s your answer to these questions? Have we “not known”? Have we “not heard”? Have we allowed the hustle and bustle of life to rob us of what we truly know about our God? I find it amazing that so often I am distracted by the struggles of life, by the issues that come upon us when we least expect them, by things that I want to change but are often out of my control, or my realm of responsibility. It’s so easy to allow the happenings of life to rob us of the joy of “living” life to the full! God reminded Israel just as He’s reminding us today, that we need to remember WHO HE IS, and WHAT HE can do! HE is truly our “all in all”; and I’m so glad that “Christ is all, and in all.” (See Colossians 3:11b)
Peter says is nicely:
“Grace and peace be multiplied
unto you
through the knowledge of God,
and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power
hath given unto us all things
that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him
that hath called us
to glory
and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us
exceeding great
and precious
promises:
that by these
ye might be partakers
of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption
that is in the world
through lust.” 2 Peter 1:2-4
We have great promises that God has made and given to us who will believe –will you trust and believe God’s Word to you? I pray that we will each examine our hearts, minds, and lives to see if we are living in obedience to God’s Word or flying by the seat of our own way (pants)—our own emotions—our own ideas—our own plans and designs? How easy it is to be swayed by those around us—be it the people around us, the media influences or just plain old ‘our own’ personal stubbornness—rather than relying on the truths of God’s Word!
Oh, Lord, teach us to lean on your “power…and… …strength” for all those things that assail us and try to get us off kilter—even more importantly—off balance from YOUR Word! Oh, how I want to learn to “wait upon the LORD”, to live with the confidence in my God that expresses itself in what Paul prayed for the Colossians:
“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord
unto all pleasing,
being fruitful
in every good work,
and increasing
in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might,
according to his glorious power,
unto all patience
and longsuffering
with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks
unto the Father,
which hath made us meet
to be partakers
of the inheritance of the saints
in light:” Colossians 1:10-12
As we think of being one who will “wait upon the LORD”, I find Paul’s admonition pretty doable, in part; I’m ok with the “might” and “power” of The Lord, and I can even make progress on the “patience and longsuffering”, but I do find a hitch sometimes in the “with joyfulness”! Maybe you have problems with being joyful in the areas that demand patience and longsuffering; while many think these two things are the same, there is a subtle difference and I think it worth mentioning so that we can understand that God understands humanity! All of it—remember, Jesus came and lived a sinless life amongst all the trials and temptations of real life; so, one of these words is dealing with difficult circumstances and the other with difficult people. Which do you have in your life right now? I just want to remind each of us that God is still faithful to every trial.
Will you join me in committing to strive to be more diligent to “wait upon the LORD” in every situation. To let God direct not only our “steps”, but our words, our actions, our desires, and responses in every situation—regardless of whether it involves circumstance or people or both! And remember:
“Ye are of God,
little children,
and have overcome them:
because greater is he
that is in you,
than he
that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
Praise God!!! Amen and Amen!!!