Advent Devotion - Expectant Waiting
Psalm 130:5-6 - I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning - yes, more than they that watch for the morning.
Isaiah 26:8-9 - Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O Lord, have we waited for You. The desire of our soul is for Your name. With my soul I have desired You in the night. Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early.
1 Peter 1:10-12 – As to this salvation the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven – things into which angels long to look.
Ever been excited about a big game or a tryout? I remember having a nervous excitement before every game all the way through college. It was the expectation –not knowing how it would unfold but looking forward to the thrill of the game. Last week we saw that Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and looking forward to His second coming. Even more than for a big game or a tryout, we should anticipate and prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.
Hockey is consuming for many players – meaning it’s their number one priority, what’s most important to them. Their dreams and aspirations are to play in the NHL, win a championship, score the game winning goal, etc. And so their anticipation, excitement for the chance to excel is extremely high. It’s not bad to be excited about a game, but we need to be careful what we make idols of – excitement for hockey should not supersede excitement of Jesus Christ.
In 1 Peter, we see that prophets searched intently for the coming of the Christ – and what’s sometimes more amazing to me is that even the angels longed to look into this. The coming of Jesus Christ fascinated them, it was consuming for them. This is what they anticipated, had a nervous excitement about.
In Psalm 130 the psalmist’s soul waits for the Lord even more than the watchman waits for the morning. Having stood my share of all night watches in the Marine Corps, I know the feeling of being tired, having time crawl by, and having a griping desire for a bed. But he says he desires the Lord more than comfort, and that he will wait for Him. “I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord, more than the watchman waits for the morning”.
I pray that during this advent season we prepare for and anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ more than hockey games and comfort. May we have hearts that wait expectantly for the Savior and call out “Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O Lord, have we waited for You. The desire of our soul is for Your name. With my soul I have desired You in the night. Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early.” - Isaiah 26:8-9
What are some things that you look forward to? How does your excitement of the second coming of Jesus Christ compare? How are you preparing your heart to celebrate the birth of Jesus?
For more on waiting on the Lord see Psalm 25, Psalm 27:14, Psalm 37, Lamentations 3:25-26