Are you waiting?

 

Isaiah 40:28-30 (The Message)

 

"He energizes those who get tired,

gives fresh strength to dropouts.

For even young people tire and drop out,

young folk in their prime stumble and fall.

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.

They spread their wings and soar like eagles,

They run and don’t get tired,

they walk and don’t lag behind."

 
To wait:

• "To call upon or visit."
• "To remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens."

The immediate definition I think of is literally sitting and waiting for something to happen. Sitting quietly to hear God's voice. Spending time in silence. Waiting upon the Lord.

But there is another definition of the word 'wait':

• "To perform the duties of an attendant or servant for."
• "To supply the wants of a person, as serving a meal or serving a customer in a store."

During Sunday morning worship at church two weeks ago we sang several songs that were based off of the last few verses of Isaiah 40 including this song, as well as a song the worship leader had written himself. At one point he stopped the music and said to us,

 

"I have a friend who, after hearing the song I wrote, said, 'Man, I just love to sit in my room and wait on God. I just spend hours waiting on him.' To which I replied, 'Yeah man that's awesome and I love to do that too, but that is not what this particular song is about.' This one is about being a servant. Being a waiter."
 

He told us that in the original Hebrew text of this passage in Isaiah, the literal translation was to be a servant. Now, I don't know Hebrew so I can't back up that statement. But even so, it was a perspective I had never heard before...and I like it. (If you can translate Hebrew, verify this for me?)

Mark 10:41-45 

As Christians, we are called to be Christ-like. Christ came to be a servant to mankind. So should we be.

Matthew 25:37-40

God says that when we serve the people around us, we are serving Him.

Colossians 3:23
SO: We will be strengthened as we serve others in our community; as we put other people's needs in front of our own; as we seek the Lord; as we sit in silence to hear His voice; as we go on that missions trip; as we go to college and university; as we go to work and interact with our co-workers; as we do everything as if we were doing it for the Lord.

Are you waiting?