God's Waiting Room

 But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me.

– Micah 7:7

The Information Age has launched countless time-saving innovations that have simplified our lives and made the most of our busy schedules. For example, we can book our flight and hotel reservations on a website rather than waiting on the phone for a customer service representative. And instead of standing in line at the bank to deposit a paycheck, a tap or two of our smartphone accomplishes the task in mere seconds. That said, waiting is still an inescapable reality for most of us. Obtaining a driver’s license can mean a morning (or more) at the DMV — and who knows how long your car will be in the shop for repairs. On average, we’ll spend five years of our life in lines!

Few people like to wait, and multi-tasking to make the most of down-time has become a valued life-skill. But waiting isn't always a waste. In fact, it’s an essential part of God's plan for our lives: a process that enables us to become. This concept might be difficult to grasp because the human viewpoint of time differs greatly from that of our Creator. Thankfully, the apostle Peter helps to put it into perspective.

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends," he wrote. "To the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day."

As Christ-followers, we must understand that what happens while we're waiting is often more important than what we're waiting for. Ask anyone who has spent grueling hours at the hospital contemplating the health and future of a loved one. Did their soul-searching experience bring a closer dependence on God? It should have. After all, it's when we're so humbled and powerless that we realize we can do nothing on our own.

So maybe our never-stop, 24/7 world actually revolves around waiting. Let's therefore make the most of our time in God's Waiting Room — a place where we can look for ways and opportunities to say yes to him with a sense of expectancy and hope.

"Be still, and know that I am God," we read in Psalm 46:10. "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Priority One

Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.

– 2 Corinthians 1:12

There’s plenty of talk these days about conservation and renewable resources. It’s all about doing more with less and getting back to basics. As a nation, we have to set priorities. But what about our personal priorities for a valuable resource that we can never renew: our time?

Everyone has only a set number of days to live on this Earth. And what we do with them depends on our priorities. Some might live to travel the globe and find adventure. Some might live for pleasure, family or friends. And still others might seek meaning by throwing themselves into their careers. With so many choices and outlooks, how can we best set our priorities?

With the recent Winter Olympics still fresh in our memories, let’s consider Eric Liddell’s story for some guidance. Liddell was a Christ-follower who believed that everything in his life should be done to please God. Born in China, he looked forward to one day fulfilling his calling as a missionary. But before that, he would compete in the 1924 Paris Olympics as a runner.

All seemed well until Liddell learned that his big race was scheduled for a Sunday. And that was a big problem. He felt in his heart that competing on Sundays was wrong — that it would dishonor the God he always sought to please. So he stepped aside, seemingly disqualifying himself from a chance at fame by representing his country in the Olympic Games. 

Eric Liddell’s clear priority was to put God first, regardless of the cost. And needless to say, it was a priority that few shared. It’s reported that even the Prince of Wales urged the young athlete to run in the Sunday track meet. But Liddell refused to compromise his principles.

And then the unexpected happened. Liddell was given an opportunity to race on another day. The catch was that he had never trained for that particular event. Fans of the 1981 movie classic Chariots of Fire surely know what happened next: Liddell won the contest and claimed the cherished gold medal.

So, what are your priorities in life? What’s really important? 

As Christ-followers, we first need to seek God’s guidance if He hasn’t already answered those questions. It’s then that we take that next crucial step: the decision to honor God. We also need to develop a plan of action. What are we willing to change to meet the goal? What’s negotiable? And finally, it’s time to deliver by running the race and seeing it through past the finish line.

Eric Liddell’s real-life adventure is full of life lessons. But if there’s just one to adopt as our own, it’s that God will honor us when we decide to honor God.

Are you ready to go back to basics in your walk of faith? Then let the race begin.

Give It a Rest

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

– Exodus 20:8

You’ve likely seen them in bookstores, online and in college dorm rooms. And you might even have a few at home. They’re those yellow For Dummies books that help you do everything from gardening to database management to gourmet cooking. There’s even one on Christianity.

The For Dummies books and their companion website are popular because so many folks these days don’t have the time or patience to learn and appreciate why things are the way they are. Instead, they want to know (quickly) how it's done without all the annoying details.

That’s not always a bad thing — particularly when there's a last-minute project at the office and you don’t have a clue where to start. So let’s give them their due. The For Dummies books and their imitators can often save readers hours of time and at least a few sleepless nights.

But there’s a downside when we overemphasize shortcuts and quick fixes. In 21st century America, our hectic lives can consist of random snapshots and scattered sound bytes rather than full-length, Technicolor documentaries. We literally don’t stop to smell the roses, which happen to be some of God’s most beautiful creations. And the result is that we miss out on life.

Wouldn’t it be nice to interrupt our never-ending schedules to recharge our batteries and forget about the everyday grind? The Bible tells us that God agrees. And that’s why he created the Sabbath. It’s one special day each week (not necessarily Sunday) when we can worship, relax with family and friends, do good for others, and enjoy life.

That’s one valid way to look at the Sabbath. But it has a much deeper meaning. This special day also reflects a special person (Jesus Christ), who exemplified everything the Sabbath should be. Although he had only three years to save the world, Jesus still took time out to pray, help others — and even attend a party or two. Never in a hurry, he even called himself the Lord of the Sabbath. And he still had time to complete his must-do to-do list.

Ever wonder how you’ll ever get it all done? Learn from Jesus’ example and just give it a rest.

 

Rest for the Weary

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

-- Matthew 11:29

Climbing the career ladder, beating tight deadlines, and closing the deal are marks of success in Western society. Millions of us even skip or cut short our well-earned vacations each year because we’re either afraid to fall behind at work or we can’t find time on our busy calendars. In fact, recent findings from the U.S. Travel Association reveal that American workers left an average of 33%, or nearly six days, of paid time on the table. 

Jesus had the world’s most important job — saving humanity from its sins — and his routine was often nonstop. In just three years he cured disease, raised the dead and even calmed a raging storm. So with such a tight schedule, it seems like Jesus would have little or no time to take a break or even socialize. But it turns out that he did make a special effort to enjoy quality time away, and often with those who mattered the most to him. And it’s safe to say that he still managed to accomplish his mission. Recorded in Mark’s gospel, Christ’s admonition to his busy disciples paints the picture:

“Now come along to some quiet place by yourselves, and rest for a little while,” said Jesus, for there were people coming and going incessantly so that they had not even time for meals.

Likewise, Luke’s gospel records an occasion when Christ visited the home of his friends Martha and Mary. While Martha busily prepared the food and straightened the house for a gathering, her sister Mary decided to take time out and listen to Jesus’ message. Martha was very upset with Mary’s attitude and complained to Jesus about the apparent injustice. But instead of scolding Mary, Jesus commended her for choosing the most important thing: quality time with him. Jesus understood the importance of off-time, and he was even known (and criticized) for attending a party or two! 

Wouldn’t it be nice to interrupt our never-ending schedules to recharge our batteries and forget the everyday grind? The Bible teaches that well-earned rest is part of God’s design for us to do good work. So with that in mind, let’s learn from Jesus’ example of rest for the weary.