Waiting Well
As a former waiter, I thought this clip was amazing. I’ve worked close to fifteen jobs now and waiting tables is by far one of the hardest. Why? Because waiting is tough business…
One of the hardest things that we’re called to do as Christians is to wait. What are we waiting on? Christ. When He came in the flesh, he kicked off the Kingdom of God and announced the Good News of salvation to all who would trust in Him. Soon after the death and resurrection of Jesus, He is taken back up into Heaven. But His promise is that He is coming back. And when He returns, those who have trusted in Him will be with Him forever…
But what about the wait? What do we do in the meantime? In Luke 12:35, Jesus gives some instructions on how to wait for Him. He tells a story of a master who went off to a wedding leaving his servants at home. The master, just like Jesus, tells his servants that he will be coming back and gives them some instructions on how to wait well for his return. Obeying these two commands is how we wait well for Jesus’ return.
The two commands, in Luke 12:35, are “keep your waist girded up” and “keep your lamps burning.” The first command, to keep your waist girded up, literally means “Be ready to serve!” Jesus is calling us to 24-7 service! This means keeping our eyes and ears open to when and how He is calling us to serve. The second command is to keep your lamps burning. A servant who kept her lamp burning showed that she was hoping and trusting in her master’s return! The amazing thing is that when the master returns, he serves His servants! This is Jesus’ promise of blessing to those who wait on Him!
So how do we wait well on Jesus? A disciple who waits well on Jesus takes these two commands seriously. They serve Jesus. And they hope and trust in His return. When we live this way, it shows the world that this isn’t our home. Our home is in Heaven with Christ and He is our treasure.
Do you think most Christians live with the hope that Jesus is coming back? What do you look forward to most about Christ’s return? How is Christ calling you to serve Him as you wait on His return? What stands in our way at times? How can we set our hope and trust in Him and His return? What things do we tend to place our trust and hope in instead?
Hit me up guys! Let me know what your thoughts are!
Lots of love in Jesus!
Nate Horne – Youth Director
October 13th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
i think that a lot of Christians know and believe that jesus is coming back but they don’t really think about it much. this has really helped me to want to serve jesus and remember that he is coming back.
October 13th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
i think that alot of christians beleave that chirst is coming back and they read the bible and know what is says but i dont think they really know how to prepair for his coming like they read the bible and alot alot alot of things have changed in this day and age and they really dont know hoe to prepair themselfs and there hearts for his coming and they dont really think about how it could happen any minut of anyday at any time.
October 13th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Oh lots of things can stand in our way TV, friends, school, practically everything. Trust can be a very hard thing to give up but I think we can put our trust and hope in him by reading his word, when he asks us to do things to just trust him no matter what you think and to just whole heartedly believe and and trust in what his word says.
October 13th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
i think that sometimes i am just to focused on getting that project done for school or reading the new magazine i got, to be updated and “in the now” instead looking forward to what is going to happen when christ comes back (eternity witn GOD, what fun!). this is the reason i think that christians don’t always focus on jesus first, some of us think that jesus will come back… but just not when im alive. so we put our hope in treasures on earth and not on things above cause jesus ain’t comin back when im here. the things we can set our hope and trust is the bible and gods promises he gives us, and not to let our lamps burn out and twittle our thumbs.
October 13th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
I think that it is so so hard to be 100% focused on God now a days. Between all of the homework, and facebook and your favorite TV show it becomes really hard to put all of your trust in the Lord. I think that it is important to “fast facebook” and make some time for God, so that you can always be ready to serve anyone or anything that God presents in your path. We need to be faithful like a dog is to its owner, follows it anywhere, will do anything for their master. That is exactly the attitude of a true Christian!
October 14th, 2009 at 7:10 am
I think most people know Jesus is coming back but they do not live like it is an important part of their lives. They are distracted and comfortable with their lives. I often struggle with this too. We need to encourage one another to live our lives with HOPE and TRUST in HIM. And to make a difference in someone’s life everyday by showing them Christ.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:19 am
I think what ellie said was right on. People know that God is coming back and believe it, but they never stop to think God could come back right now. We as christens should be waiting at all times and never stop believing that he is on his way and we need to be ready to follow him anytime.
October 14th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
i think that one of the mainthings holding us back from serving God is fear. fear of what people are going to think, and what they might say. this is something i have a very hard time with.
i think it’s a cool thing to think of your life as a constant mission trip. a place where you are sent to serve.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I was sitting here reading all the comments and I saw a lot of people were saying “i think” and I was just wondering how many people actually “know”. Like if they got the nice story of salvation like ‘Jesus loves you, accept him as your Lord and you will be fine’ and then they did and nobody told them he was coming back, or like it was just something on their to-do-list, like Monday morning “get saved”. I think that the outcome of our trust and hope in God would have a terrific impact on other people who don’t know He’s a’comin’ ‘ome. Have any of ya’ll looked up and seen the sun rays coming through the clouds? That always reminds me. Not that I’m trusting a cloud or anything but I will admit I don’t always trust God to take care of things. I think most christians don’t think about it a lot and when it happens(Him coming back) they are going to wish they did(think about it more and lived like they knew and wanted it to come). In short I agree with every body else.
October 14th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
I agree with the other people when they say most christians know that Jesus is coming back but they dont know what to do about it or how to live it out. What I look forward to most about christs return is getting to actually see him and interact with him in person. Also I am excited for all the amazing things that will happen right before he comes. I think what stands in our way is anything worldly because it is true that we live in a fallen world so people and things are comstantly after us and our attention. I think christ is calling me to just help people and be nice to them when no one else is, also live like Nate said “Not for this world, but for something better”. This is a really great lesson and something all christans need to hear. (P.S. I <3 Janices response)=)
October 14th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Yah im number 10!!!!
October 15th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
go Mary Kathryn!!!!
October 15th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
I was reading Delcie’s response & i thought she drove the “golden spike into the train track” when she said that 1 of the main things that is holding us back from serving GOD is fear. That made me thank of a song by DCTALK called JESUS FREAK and 1 of the lines in the song says ” what will people think when hear that i’m a Jesus freak” the way we live today, well let me rephrase that, the culture in which we live today everybody is like” i’m going out with Jimmy tonight and i have to wear something he’ll notice me in. Like should i wear the purple shirt or the orange one or the pink or the blue or…or…i don’t know what shirt to wear. and like what should i wear the jeans or the mini skirt.” We get so sidetracked with the “what will people think” in the world we can’t get back on track with God. So I leave you tonight with this FORGET THE ” WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK” AND GRAB YOUR BIBLES ITS GONNA BE A BUMPY RIDE!!!!!!!!!
CHOU