Dear Reader
Today I wanted to take a step back from going deep into the Word of God and open up to you all a little bit about myself. I believe that telling your testimony or of the works that God has done in your life can be a very encouraging gift for the reader and person telling. I want to hopefully do that for you today. I will be honest; I was uncertain at first as to why this was on my heart. I have been planning on going deep like we did with Jude, but felt I needed to take a step back and open up to you, the reader.
I know we are living in crazy days, yet it is important that we do more than just reflect on the Word of God, but rather embrace His Word. I believe Psalm 25 puts it clearly, “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul, O my God, in you I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none of those who wait for you will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed. Make me know your ways, O Lord; Teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me for you are the God of my salvation; For you I wait all the day.” Psalm 25:1-5.
We need to be waiting each and every moment like it is the moment our Lord and Savior is coming back. I was asked recently if this would be tiring, waiting all the time? I simply smiled and told them that waiting on the Lord has been taken out of context. People think waiting on the Lord means we are just waiting for Him to do something and He is just absent. Waiting on the Lord is actually an active thing.
He is there for me when the world is persecuting and being its normal evil self, He is there! “Turn to me and be gracious to me, For I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses. Look upon my affliction and my trouble and forgive all my sins” Psalm 25:16-18. Waiting for the Lord means that the Lord is not missing but is with you. For those of us who are saved in Jesus Christ, the verse in proverbs is literal “But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” Proverbs 18:24b. For a believer waiting on the Lord means having the Lord at the controls of your life as we live it.
Over the past several years, I have moved across the nation to a place with no family minus my wife. Yet, God was with us all the way. When we found out that we were going to be parents, my wife and I realized that God was with us in the preparation and planning of this little one. We still have no idea why He moved us across the nation, nevertheless, I remember what Timothy is told by Paul in 2nd Timothy, “Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything” 2nd Timothy 2:7. This verse has two applications to it. First being the obvious, the Lord will help you understand the Word of God, we know this from John 16, “I have many more things to say to you but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak’ and He will disclose to you what is to come” John 16:12-13. But the verse from Timothy also has application regarding our lives at times. When we are confused on why God has us in a certain place or at a certain time with a specific problem, He might be attempting to teach, show, or instruct us in something specific in our life. He does this so that we do not become complacent in this world, which is why I am so glad that I go through the challenges that God has ordained for me to go through, it is why you should be glad about them as well. I am reminded that our challenges are not to degrade us, but rather to edify us in the body of Christ, remember we are not of this world those of us who are saved, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” Romans 12:2. We have a God who loves us and wants to be with us. I most of all need to remember that at times, we need to slow down and reflect on what God is doing right now in the present with our lives. Yes, we know that our past was sinful flesh, we know our future is glory in Christ Jesus, but the current is God speaking to us what He is wanting us to learn.
In summary, I wanted to highlight that at times we might not know what is going on in our current personal predicaments, let us not forget to stop and observe what God is trying to do in our lives in the moment. Maybe take a step back from the thousand-foot view and see the microscopic view and see the small lesson that Christ might be attempting to show us. We need to address each second in complete anticipation and obedience to God’s will, this is the true wait upon the Lord scenario. We need to keep mindful with the time He has allotted us. I have been serving God through Mill House Ministries and I plan on continuing to serve Him in this ministry as long as He wants me to. I love writing each and every week to you all. If you ever have questions, prayer requests, or just need a personal encouraging word, please contact us at the ministry. “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you” Philippians 3:1.
Finally, no matter what happens over the next couple months, let us not forget to seek after the Lord and truly do what Titus 2 is all about, ”For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed and to purify for Himself a people or His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you” Titus 2:11-15. As we continue on with our studies and postings, no matter where God takes you the reader and us the writers, let us not forget that we serve a God who is greater than anything that can happen in our lives. I will end on this, “What a mighty God we serve, What a mighty God we serve, angels bow before Him, Heaven and earth adore Him, what a mighty God we serve.”[1]
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming
JL
[1] Song by Hezekiah Walker