Do you like to wait?
I don’t think I know anyone who would say ‘yes’ to that one.
I don’t even like Express Lines at Walmart… seriously, there’s nothing express about them.
Sometimes, when we have to wait a long time, we can lose hope and even lose faith that it will ever happen.
It’s kind of like waiting for the Eagles to win the Super Bowl….. never gonna happen…sorry, I digressed.
Anyway, James exhorts us to be patient until the Lord’s coming for His coming is at hand.
The early church leaders believed in the doctrine of Imminence: that Jesus was going to return at any moment.
Now, it’s been a while since James wrote that, but it hasn’t stopped being relevant.
As Jesus’ Bride, we need to expect Jesus to return at any moment.
James also tells us to strengthen our hearts while we wait..
This makes me think of the Isaiah 40:31,
“Those that wait on the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary; and they will walk and not faint.”
But, what does it mean to “wait on the Lord?”
Folks, it’s not really a time thing; it’s a dependence thing.
When we are waiting on God, we are depending on Him.
This is what releases His power to strengthen us for the journey no matter how long it lasts.
Waiting in dependence on Jesus, is the very thing that empowers us to endure the wait for His return.
Knowing that His life is both IN us and flows THROUGH us gives life to our faith, and we will never stop believing that His return could come at any moment.
Depending on His life in us is also what empowers us through His Spirit to walk uprightly before Him in His great love for us.
If we depend on our flesh, we will get lax and become sloppy in our choices leading to compromise as we indulge our fleshly lusts.
So, beloved, remember that waiting on Jesus is depending on His life IN us lived OUT through us until His return.
Maranatha! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Blessings!
Robyn