Waiting Forward

Two days ago, I concluded a five-week sermon series during which our church focused on the letter Paul (along with Silas and Timothy) wrote to the small group of new believers in the Greek port city, Thessalonica.  Within that letter, the Apostle encouraged the Christ-followers to stay strong in their faith with a hope fueled by the expectation of Jesus' return.  They, like modern-day Christians, looked forward to the Lord's return.

Looking forward goes hand-in-hand with waiting.  Waiting goes hand-in-hand with patience.  

Impatience forces its way in seeking to separate the hands of patience and waiting and, when successful, thus handicaps one's looking-forward.

None, save the few number of extra patient people among us, wait well.  As a general rule, we rank poorly on the delayed-satisfaction scale.  What we want we want as soon as possible - actually "now" would be better. 
So how can we strengthen our waiting abilities?  To answer in a word - run.  No, I'm not suggesting that you lace up your Sauconys.  Rather, I'm encouraging you to hear and heed the words Paul wrote to a young man named Timothy.

11-12 But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.

13-16 I’m charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn’t give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don’t slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. He’ll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. He’s the only one death can’t touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He’s never been seen by human eyes—human eyes can’t take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes.  1 Timothy 6:11-16 (The Message)

Run.  Run toward wonder.  Race to faith.  Sprint for love.  Dart steadily.  Hurry with courtesy.  Seize the eternal life by living your everyday ordinary life with a passion for life, true life.

Ready . . . Set . . . (You know the rest!)

#ordinarylives