… because everyone believes in something…
(part 3 of 4)
1As God’s co-workers we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! 3We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships… and see — we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”
-2 Corinthians 6:1-4, 9-10
It’s true… we make the road by walking… I wrote recently… and it has not been easy… and it’s not easy because walking is a controlled fall and we stumble when we get off balanced and we all need some balance in our lives… and I’m hoping this post, the previous two and the next one will help each reader to ponder that idea and make it real in the corner of God’s kingdom where each of you reside! Faith matters! We get our balance. We walk with purpose and in time run the race with others… not to win… but to finish well… as well as can be… people like us… in times like this… as every generation needs to claim the day!
In the 40th chapter of Isaiah we read…
“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
I love the word wait… as it has two meanings when it comes to the Christian faith… to wait is to be patient… to have hope and to trust God is up to something good… and to wait is also to serve… as in doing something good for someone else… as it’s worth the wait to get reservations to a good restaurant knowing the staff will not be in a hurry to have you eat and leave… you know those places where they put the emphasis in REST at the restaurant… and while you are resting… enjoying a meal and good conversation… you are waited on by an excellent server… and of course there’s this… we are all waiting for November 5… America’s election day… to cast our vote for the people whom we believe will serve the city, county, state and nation to the best of their abilities and with the benefit of all in their hearts and minds. That’s not an easy path to maneuver either… and again… we make the road by walking… walking to the polls and not staying at home expecting someone else to decide for us.
So what then does it mean for any of us to ‘wait upon the Lord?’ Does this really matter? Isn’t making our own choices based on our own thoughts and ideas good enough? For some, perhaps. People in North Carolina or central Florida may disagree. And how does ‘waiting’ help when St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians about the urgency of the moment… saying ‘today is the day of salvation’… or as I read this… everyday matters… every moment counts… each hour and each opportunity offers the possibility of goodness being extended and embraced.
Remember when Rafiki told Simba to look at his reflection in the water? From the movie, “The Lion King?” And when Simba said it was only his reflection? Then Rafiki suggested to Simba he ‘look harder!” Well that’s the thing… God is at work… and we all can look harder to see more than just ourselves. God is faithful and old Isaiah said… “the Lord will renew our strength and lift us up in order that we might run and not be weary…” a promise suggesting we not walk the path of life alone but follow those who have walked ahead of us walking in God’s ways daily!
The Rev. Dr. Brian K. Gigee is a long-time resident of Pearland, having pastored four churches over the last four decades in Texas and Louisiana. Read more following Brian’s blog ‘murmurings’ at https://briangigee.wordpress.com/. Send comments and/or questions to godworks247365@gmail.com.
