In the message “God’s Perfect Will” we saw that God’s will is for us to live a life of thanksgiving and prayer, a life of contentment and peace independent of circumstances. It is also “God’s will that you should be sanctified {set apart, made holy}; that you should avoid sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). These are general aspects of God’s will, given to every one of His Children. His specific direction will come as we obediently align our life with His general will…and wait.
We live in a generation where waiting is viewed as a waste of time, but learning to wait is one way we grow: “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” (Isaiah 40:31 KJV).
This is a powerful and encouraging passage: if we wait on the Lord, we will be strengthened, soar like the eagles, and not grow weary. But what does it really mean to wait? We are not called to “take up the cross of Salvation” so we can then live our lives sitting on the couch. Rather, as believers in Jesus Christ, we have been invited to a wonderful lifetime journey – a journey which is sometimes difficult, but one always filled with adventure and purpose.
1 Timothy 6:11-12
“But you, man of God, flee from all this {evil}, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Notice all the words of action: flee, pursue, fight, take hold. This is definitely a call to actively move forward in our journey of faith; a call to move toward a life as God intended it to be lived!
So do we wait, or do we fight and take hold? Do we rest and hope in the Lord, or do we flee and pursue? The answer is a simple, but absolute, yes! We are called to a life of action, to a life where we “bear much fruit” (John 15:8), but we must learn to “act” while waiting and trusting God for every result. We must give Him all our effort while remaining “in the vine” (John 15:4), and allowing the life of Christ to flow through us and produce the fruit.
This means we are to boldly share the gospel message, but then to wait on God for the harvest of belief. It means we are to seek opportunities and diligently prepare for service, but then continue to listen for God to reveal His desired path. It means we are to be agents of Godly change in the world, but then patiently trust His timing and rest in His strength.
God calls us to a faith of complete trust, a faith which produces both action and patience. Let’s take hold and fight the good fight of faith as we learn to actively wait.
Have a Christ Centered Day!
Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries
**** Reading Plan ****
May 16 1 Samuel 18:5-19:24; John 8:31-59; Psalm 112:1-10; Proverbs 15:12-14
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