Waiting is Good

December 13

(Luke 2:25-26 NIV) "Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. {26} It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ."

(Luke 12:35-36 NIV) "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, {36} like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him."

(Hebrews 9:27-28 NIV) "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, {28} so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

(Lamentations 3:22-26 NIV) "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. {23} They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. {24} I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." {25} The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; {26} it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

Waiting is good. You may have heard the saying: “Good things come to those who wait.” Some even mistake this prominent sales slogan for a Bible verse. It certainly has some biblical wisdom attached to it. One of the disciplines of Christmas is waiting. As the day approaches, anticipation builds. Simeon had been waiting for a long time, but was content because God had told him he would see the Christ before he died. God did not disappoint Simeon. We too, are waiting to see the Christ. Jesus lives in those who have believed through the Holy Spirit, but we anticipate His bodily return like children waiting for Christmas to come. As we wait, we do our best to be righteous and devout. We keep our lamps burning. Christ is coming in person to bring salvation to those who have been waiting for Him. Waiting is good. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day