Thursday, Dec 7 | What are we waiting for?
December 7, 2017 | Tim King
Editor's Note
About the author: Tim and his wife Heather have been involved at ZPC for a number of years. They have one daughter in high school and one daughter in middle school. Tim serves as ZPC's facilities manager and when he's not working at ZPC you might find him performing as a musician in local venues (see picture).
About this post: This blog post is part of a series of daily devotionals where we are exploring traditional Advent themes of waiting, mystery, redemption, and incarnation. To sign up to receive text notification of these posts, text zpc advent to 39970. Advent booklets are also available at the ZPC Welcome Center. We welcome your comments and questions each day.
Waiting | Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his Kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
What are you waiting for? What future do you see for yourself, your family, your career? The nation of Israel was waiting for God to fulfill his promise of a deliverer, someone who would remove a secular government from their lives, vanquish their enemies, and place them in their rightful place in the world. They had built a paradigm of what this deliverer would look like, but they were 180 degrees off! They were waiting for a powerful military leader to carry the day. While waiting, they built specific expectations and prepared themselves (heart and mind) for what this deliverer would do. In anticipating a military leader, they removed themselves from a focus on sharing the love of the God who is Love. Theirs was an attitude of being the “spiritual elite” instead of recognizing the fact that they were an undeservedly blessed people.
The Israelites were waiting for power, might, and even vengeance. Instead, when the Savior arrived, they found humility in the form of an infant, love in the form of Christ’s open arms, and grace in the form of the King of Kings sacrificing everything on the cross for our sake.
What are we waiting for? In working toward our goals, are we aware that God is always bending our work toward where he wants us to be? Are we ready to have our lives changed in unexpected ways? Have we truly placed our futures in the hands of our Savior?
Activity
Write down a goal or dream that is important to you. Under this goal or dream write down how Christ might turn this on its head and take you on an unexpected path. Next, write down how you hope you would react to such a change. Finally, ask the King of Kings to help you be ready when he guides you down a road you never expected, and to embrace it knowing that he is with you always.
Prayer
Lord, I am ever grateful that you have created me to be the unique person I am, and that I am uniquely designed to do the work you have planned for my life. Please help me to constantly be waiting on you to take me down an unexpected path to do the work you have prepared me to do.
In your precious name,
Amen.