January
9, 2013
Romans is full of verses about hope. One instructs us to be joyful in hope.
Kids get this. You can tell a kid you’re going to get him an
ice cream in an hour, and the kid will jump up and down, smile as he thinks
about the treat, and pull on your shirt until you get out the door. They are joyful in hope…but not very patient.
The same verse says to be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Then it goes on to instruct us to share with people in need and practice
hospitality. What does all of that have
to do with being joyful in hope? Everything!
The best way to pass the time while we are
hoping and waiting…is to pray…and serve.
When we remain faithful in prayer, we are telling God we trust Him. We trust him to answer our prayers in His
time and to sustain us while we wait.
And when we give to others in need, we are blessed beyond measure
ourselves…which gives us peace while we wait.
Isn’t that cool how that works?
God knows we will be antsy while waiting
for a treat. He gets that. He knows we want to tug on his shirt and bug
Him until we get what we want. But he
knows that the best thing we can do is to wait patiently and serve others while
he prepares the treat for us – when He thinks it’s best.
He’s a good God. Be joyful.
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