Wait; Psalm 37; Proverbs 9

May the mumbling commence!

Advent is a time of remembering, preparing and waiting.  As a culture, we often do not wait well.  We are a microwave culture.  We want dinner done in fifteen minutes or less. 

Even fast food was not fast enough for us, so we invented the drive-thru.  Yeah, even spelling out the word “through” fully took too long.  It had to be shortened.  That little change bothers my wife to no end.

So, are we ready to wait?  Are we ready to wait on the Lord?  It is countercultural to wait on the Lord.  It is much easier to do then ask permission later.  But we will get ourselves off the narrow path that Christ has trail blazed for us.  Read from Psalm thirty-seven:

Wait on the Lord,

And keep His way,

And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;

When the wicked are cut off,

you shall see it. 

I have seen the wicked in great power,

And spreading himself like a native green tree. 

Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more;

Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found. (Verses 34-36)

Wait on the Lord.  Keep His way.  And both you and the Lord will be exalted.  God’s children will inherit the land.  It is a long range vision that has multiple effects on the here and now.

Look at the alternative.  Great power could be yours, now.  You will spread like a healthy native tree, now.  But enjoy it while it lasts, because it will soon pass away – never to be found again.  Do we really want to sacrifice eternity with our living and loving Lord for a few perks now that we cannot hold onto?

The answer is painfully clear.  We will like the outcome much better if we wait on the Lord than if we compulsively try to choose our own ways.  Read from Proverbs chapter nine:

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 

For by me your days will be multiplied,

And years of life will be added to you. 

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,

And if you scoff, you will bear it alone." (Verses 10-12)

A piece of the definition to fearing the Lord lands squarely in waiting on the Lord so that we might keep His way.  We wait and learn and attempt to put into practice what we learn.  And that means godly wisdom.  Godly wisdom means multiplied days and years of life.  Wisdom benefits you and those around you.  Wisdom creates right relationships.

To scoff and do wicked things leads to a lonely life.  To do such things is to suffer the dreadful consequences alone.  Let’s choose wisely in remembering, preparing and waiting on the Christ child to enter our lives in a new way this Advent season.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out