Are we there yet? Is it Christmas yet? How much longer? Can I open presents yet? These are common phrases spoken by kids (both big and little) who are impatiently waiting for Christmas. In our world today, we all want things right now and too often we're not willing to wait. In fact, we get irritated if we have to wait an extra ten minutes at a restaurant for our food, or we get stopped at a traffic light when we're running late. We want things and we want things now. Ask yourself this question: what area in your life are you most in need of patience? Pause for a moment, reflect, and then come back to this devotion.
Did any of you say, waiting for Christ to return? Yet, that is indeed what we should be focused on and waiting for. Advent is a time of year when we remember Christ's first coming and we look forward to His Second Coming. Christ has come and will come again. We have God's promise of that. Even if we might grow impatient and think that God is taking too long in whatever situation or in His Second Coming, we know He is always on time. Just as 2 Peter 3 says, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness...." Even if we're impatient with God, He is patient with us, not wishing that any of us should perish, but that all should reach repentance. What a great and gracious God we have. He shows such patience towards us.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for Your patience with us. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Written by Pastor Adam Parvey
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Springfield, Missouri
|
