Do You Trust God’s Timing?
Good Morning Friends,
In today’s lectionary, we explore how the unrelenting love of God conforms us to the image of Christ in the context of the prophetic hope for a Messiah. We contemplate the history of Christ’s lineage, birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension and return. We contemplate the waiting we are doing, under rather strained circumstances, as we in South Florida face the coming of the historic, longest, strongest hurricane of the Atlantic Ocean. It has been named Irma and its path, as it concerns South Florida, is becoming more certain but will be known in the next 48 hours. It may well hit Immokalee, Florida dead on. And as I contemplate its coming, and Christ’s coming, I am considering the possibility that the only way for us to have true peace is to act like we want to live as Christians. So, I am trimming some branches but also hoping for less anxiety. And friends, I have concluded that after doing all we can to prepare physically we need to prepare spiritually. The only way to reduce the apprehension is to welcome the Prince of Peace into our lives with open arms despite the concern of the times. You see we are to prepare for the coming of Christ much like we prepare for a hurricane. This is serious business. There is no escaping the storms of life. So too there is no place to hide from God’s presence. But perhaps the greatest challenge is the waiting. Still we hope it is God’s election, judgement and grace that will make the difference. Do You Trust God’s Timing?
Scripture: Now you are walled around with a wall; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the ruler of Israel upon the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth;
Micah 5:1-4a (NRSV)
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Romans 8:28-30 (NRSV)
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”
Matthew 1: 18-23 (NRSV)
Message: If our minds feel worn out we are probably not trusting God nearly enough. You see sometimes knowing everything can be uncomfortable and can even hurt us. It is difficult to exercise discernment if we are always trying to figure everything out. But when one is willing to trust God even when one cannot figure it all out, we have the opportunity for a peace that sets us free. There is a revelation of peace that comforts us despite not knowing if we do indeed trust God. You see, trusting God, often if not always, requires not knowing how God is going to accomplish what needs to be done and not knowing when it will be done. We often say God is never late, but generally God is not early either. Why? Because God uses times of waiting to stretch our faith and to bring about change and growth in our lives. Micah understood this well. Like John the Baptist, Micah prepared people for the coming of the Messiah. He gave a warning of impending disaster. He did so through his prophetic words. His prophecy was and is a vision for a life lived in the divine presence, and it is this vision that we need to keep in our thoughts as we prepare for life’s storms. The relevance of the scripture today is that it speaks of hope that comes from disasters, strife and suffering. In these troubled times when many of us do not feel safe, Micah reminds us that God has promised security and peace, and that security and peace comes from the Prince of Peace himself.
Pray we wait with patience. Pray we really want to be Christians. Pray we trust in God. Pray we realize that God’s timing is perfect. Pray we realize that God values what the world does not value. Pray we take what the world sees as worthless and pour love into it. Pray we value the gift of Jesus and the love we are to give back by loving others as God loves us. Pray we treat others in the same fair way that we want them to treat us and in the same fair way God treats us. Pray we have compassion for others just as God has compassion for us.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 