For What Do We Wait?

Thursday, May 30, 2024

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Psalm 103:17-18

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them

Memory verse: Psalm 90:14

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.  

Today's reading: 2 CHRONICLES 13-14 JOHN 12:1-26

For What Do We Wait?

Psalm 39:7

“And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You."

Today, we look at Romans 5:3&4:

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

Sometimes, when I want to see what the deeper meaning of a verse is, I start by going to the 'Easy To Read' version of the bible. Why? It breaks down the big words and gets to the basic thought. The ERV says this in Romans 5:3&4:

 3 And we are also happy with the troubles we have. Why are we happy with troubles? Because we know that these troubles make us more patient. 4 And this patience is proof that we are strong. And this proof gives us hope.(This is on Biblegateway.com)

When I read that, I went to the interlinear translation(Biblehub.com) and found this to be accurate except that 'patient' in this sense means 'cheerful and patient endurance'. That is what waiting on God has to be-patient.

But the question is:"What are we waiting for?"

God's way is perfect and we do not know what the next step He wants us to take may be. We do not know what the next 'path of righteousness'(Psalm 23) may be that God will lead us on. We do not know what the next glory of His He may reveal. In our human impatience, if we jump out from under God's hand, we leave humility before Him-for our own control-and sin takes root and we are out of God's will. That's what falling to our impatience does.

That's why Paul was happy in his troubles. He knew that learning patient endurance was improving his strength in the Lord. Learning patience to Paul was making him stronger. This experience made his hope greater. He was excited about what God was going to do next in his life.

This is our attitude lesson for today. Paul fought his own sin(Romans 7:19-25) just as we do. He fought really hard times and obstacles the way most of us will not. The Lord has given this to us as such a blessing for our hearts and minds

The blessings of patience and hope and trust and growth in Him.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive me my impatience and my walking away from you to try to make something happen. Make me strong for You.

Mighty God of all strength,

In the name of Jesus,

Amen