Taking It to Work:
Last Sunday everybody was celebrating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. By Monday he was turning over tables in the temple, and being grilled about His authority. Tuesday He spoke, purposely, but not-so-clearly, to his disciples about the end times. He emphasized being prepared. There’s really nothing about yesterday, Wednesday, and today, Holy Thursday as we call it. It says the disciples ate together, and then very confused, scattered before Jesus’ trial and crucifixion the next day.
Then came Saturday, which must have been a very rough day for them, certainly different for them than it is for us. Why? Well, obviously, we have hope. We know the end of the story. We know Sunday is coming.
Hiding in that upper room, they were likely more confused than ever, cowering in a mix of fear for their own lives and of utter hopelessness that came reliving the unimaginable turn of events that they just lived through. Could you imagine how it must have been, seeing their unstoppable Lord (at least up to that point) publicly humiliated, tried, scourged and executed? In their eyes, there was no light at the end of the tunnel.
Contrast that with what we have, not only the expectation of the only fully-documented, self-resurrection this coming Sunday, but also His written word describing how He plans on resurrecting us and this very dark and fallen world at some point, in the not-too-distant future. There is no greater “good news” than what is in the pages of our Bible.
Our life should reflect the fact that we know the big picture. Regardless of how rough it may seem at times, at work or at home, it’s never permanent. If we wait it out while doing the best we know to do, in His timing, we have the promise of an incredible hope and future. Today is a reminder that, unlike the disciples, we know our Lord is alive and with us, through thick and thin. Countless saints before us can testify that we are never alone in our troubles, and no trouble lasts forever.
If all is well with you, praise God for that joy and peace. You can pass this devotional on to someone who may need it. But by chance today, if you find yourself in a personal, waiting valley that you can’t see the end of, remember His promises; wait on Him. He will be with you, never leave you. And as bleak as it may seem; have hope. Sunday’s coming, as His Word works in you today.
Psalm 27:14 (ESV) – Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Romans 8:24-25 (ESV) – For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Psalm 37:7 (ESV) – Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
Listening to the Holy Spirit (Rhema):
Of all things in time, there is waiting. In each life, a time of plenty and also scarce. When the Son of Man walked the earth, there were many who partook and were made whole, but also those who rejected, for pride and hardness of heart. In the death and waiting, many even who partook, they too lost hope. There is fear in waiting – that it shall not change, or that all will always be as it is. Fear not as those who once followed Me so closely, cowering in the dark day after the loss. They were not waiting, for they did not expect, even to them foretold. A quiet tremble behind locked doors, thought to be permanent, but for only a day. For those without hope, the day of fear does not end, but for they who expect what has been foretold, in them – great joy. You know of My resurrection and of the foretelling of your own. Rejoice and be glad, for in this you profess, and in this there is hope on this waiting day.
