Have you ever waited so long for something you felt as if it would never come to pass? It’s frustrating to wait. It can often leave us feeling anxious, discouraged, disappointed, and even hopeless.
What are you waiting on this Christmas season?
The Good News is that once we have entrusted our lives to Jesus, we will always have hope and can face our waiting seasons with courage and confidence knowing our God will act and He is faithful! He is always working things in accordance with His most perfect will for our ultimate good and His glory. We can wait with an abiding sense of peace even in the midst of turmoil and unrest.
His Name IS Advent Devotion: Day 14
Read Luke 2:1-7.
The Christmas story is the fulfillment of a long-awaited promise. A phrase that struck me in our passage today was the word “time”. God’s timing is always perfect and never too late.
Read the following passages (Old Testament prophecies and New Testament fulfillment) and note what you learn about timing.
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: The Lord is our righteousness.’ —Jeremiah 33:14-16
Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: The Lord is our righteousness.’ —Jeremiah 23:5-6
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. —Luke 2:1-6
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” —Luke 2:10-12
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. —Galatians 4:4-5
Whatever you find yourself waiting on today, you can rest confidently knowing that God is faithful and He still acts on behalf of those who love Him…for our good and His glory! And He will use our waiting time to draw close to him to mold us more each day into the character of Jesus.
Wait confidently…
Wait courageously…
Wait rejoicing…
and worship Him while you wait!
For further study read Paul’s declaration found in Acts 13:22-33.
Worship Him!
This post was first published on the blog on December 16, 2014.