Patient Waiting

31 12 2008

It has been a year filled with many thrills and spills, ups and downs, highs and lows… whatever combination one could tag to the year that has gone, one thing is definite …  a lot happened. To all of it, there were lessons to be learned and lesson to be relearned.

Today being the last day of the year 2008, it’s time to pause, reflect on the year that has been and the year that could have been. Yes, there were probably some things we set out to do, but did not accomplish (maybe due to one reason or another). But instead of ruing over missed opportunities, it’s vitally important that we take good stock and reevaluate. If there is something the Lord wants us to do, let us not delay.

As for me at the close of 2008, I’m reminded to be thankful to the Lord for all that has transpired throughout the year. The new year stands before me, new challenges on the home front, the job front and also in ministry. I can only pray that I will draw nearer to Him for grace and strength for every step of the coming way. I pray for consistency in my walk with the Lord so that I will be found faithful in Him.

Recently over the past month of December, as I was preparing some thoughts on the Lord’s servant Simeon in Luke 2, i was led to think about what it means for a believer to live in expectancy of His master’s return. It was summed up in the word “waiting”.3 thoughts came to my mind on the word “wait” and i thought I’d just share it here as it may be edifying.

Firstly, the believer is called to wait upon the Lord, meaning to trust the Lord for his very sustenance and strength as Isaiah 40:31 puts it “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint. “ This is the unguarded secret God has given us to true spiritual vitality. Though it’s very possible to go very far by mere human strength, we are reminded that youthful energy will sap and fail. Such efforts will fail, not merely in the end result, but ultimately in it’s sustainability. God’s word assures us that it is to those who are supplied by power from on high that will soar above…not sour, they’ll walk … not wilt. Thus, we are called to look to Him, to wait upon the Lord.

Secondly, to wait is to have the attitude of patient watching. We know not the day or the hour when our Lord Jesus Christ will come for His people, but we certainly want to be ready for it. We are exhorted in James 5:7-8 to “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (8)  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” 3 times we have the word patient or patience is used with regards to us watching. I think Paul’s trying to reinforce something to us. It’s only the evil servant says “my Lord delayeth his coming” (Matt 24:48) whilst the faithful and watching servant remembers His Lord’s words “Surely I come quickly.” and says “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev 22:20). Let us be found patiently waiting.

Finally, as we wait for the Lord we show our love for Him. Isaiah 64:4  reads “For since the beginning of the world [men] have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, [what] he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” Later on in the NT, as Paul quotes the Isaiah passage, we read in 1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” God has prepared, he has blessing in store for those who love him and show that devotion in their waiting for him. And so, it is those who wait for Him who love him, just as much as show that those who love Him would want to be found waiting for Him. 2 Thessalonians 3:5 ties these 2 elements of love and waiting together “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.”

Dear believer, as we usher in a new year may this be an encouragement to our hearts to be found patiently waiting for Jesus Christ’ sure and imminent return. My new year prayer for you is found below in verse 21, the last words of holy writ recorded in revelation of which i alluded to earlier). As we patiently wait for Him, we most certainly need to live by grace.

Rev 22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Rev 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Here’s wishing you a very blessed 2009.

Sincerely,

Antioch Agent


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Categories : His Return, Meditations, Prayer, Spiritual, Words

Yesterday

18 12 2008

There was a time when …
… kids had to actually ask their parents before making phone calls
… we had to adjust the tv antenna
… people knew what a mini compo was
… there were only 2 tv channels to switch between
… mums and dads could allow kids to walk to the local sundry shop without fear
… we had to peddle harder just to get more light
… boys bowed and girls would curtsey
… some of us came to school with a bag of marbles
… we rejoiced at getting 37 shots off a single roll of film
… kids wished their teachers “Good morning”, automatically
… it was possible to buy a bowl of laksa for half a ringgit
… we could rattle off phone numbers from memory
… the only time anyone could reach us on the phone was when we were home
… we actually received handwritten letters
… we had ceiling fans and no air conditioning
… the FM radio broadcast was the latest rage in town
… there were actually matters which were still considered taboo
… the swiss army knife was associated with a certain blond American
… just about everyone you knew had a stamp collection
… we all personally knew our neighbours
… eating at McD’s was ‘actually’ a treat
… ‘Negaraku’ was sung 3 times slower, and without a rumba beat
… life was simpler

Boy, have times have changed. There are some things i really miss about it.


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Categories : Life

Aspiration

12 12 2008

“Travel around the world, listen to the London Symphony Orchestra live, visit Old Trafford, drive a Lambo Countach, speaking fluent Chinese, make a decent amount of money, become a world class photographer … ” are just to name but a few of the dreams and ambitions the author of this post has allowed to pass his mind in the time of his earthly passage. Some achievable, some wishful thinking, some simply ridiculous … but unfortunately for this list it’s … earthly. Though some in and of itself may not be wrong, I’ll be honest to call a spade a spade.

What did the apostle Paul desire most in his life? The dear man got to travel much of the world but it was not for the euphoric earthly experience of a seasoned tourist. His was rooted in the advancement and proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And instead of stamps on a passport or picking up neat little souveniers, here is what he picked up on his world travels …

2 Corinthians 11:23-27 “… in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. (24) Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. (25)  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;(26) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; (27) In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”

If that was what we’d know we’d be getting in our life, who would be the first to sign up for it. Not the apostle Paul, and he had the stripes and scars to prove it. He was on a single minded mission and no adversary or adversity would stop his zeal for the Lord. He was willing to face all that (and more) because his motivation was set clearly.

Behind every dream and aspiration are our motivations. So, we may ask … “What was the apostle Paul’s motivation?” I believe, one of the most clear statements of this is found in Philippians written while imprisoned :

Phi 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Phi 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Phi 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Phi 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Phi 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Dear Christian (and i speak to myself), we can have our dreams our little goals… and some may and will be fun to accomplish and fulfill in this life. Our God is not a kill joy. For those who are blessed, some of them may be fulfilled in this one life we have. God does grant our life it’s little treats and sometimes it’s nice surprises. But let us keep our eyes on the true goal and let us not leave out the vital question … “Would I be willing to set my dreams and my pursuits for the pursuit of God’s high calling?” The battle scarred apostle had no place for self ambition, earthly pursuits. His was a wholehearted devotion to his God, so ought ours to be as we imitate him just as he imitated Christ.

Today, I was entitled to my wish as i blew out the candles on my cake. And my wish was simply this, though far from simple in it’s living out, “That i may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformable unto his death”.

This, I pray I live by the power and the grace of God … before He blows out my candle.


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Categories : Birthday, Life, Meditations, Spiritual


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