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What are you waiting for?
How patiently, expectantly, hopefully, are you waiting? Simeon was waiting to see God's promised Messiah. Many others in Jerusalem had given up. They lived in such a broken world, full of unfulfilled hopes and desires. They were weary of waiting for the arrival of One who would make everything right. The Jews felt like captives in their own city. Jerusalem was run by the Romans, who were often greedy and corrupt in collecting taxes and meddled with the religious practices. By this time, Israel had been tyrannized by idolatrous, violent empires for 700 years. For 400 of those years God had been silent. It seemed like the mighty works of God were in the past and only a faint echo remained. Many doubted whether they ever actually happened. They wondered; If God was so good, why was He so distant‚ so silent? In this setting, Simeon waited in hope, in faith, in the spirit. He waited for the Christ whom God had promised to show him before he died. He trusted God and waited for God's promise to be fulfilled. When Simeon finally encountered the Christ child, he spoke words of good news which have offered renewed hope to all who are weary and waiting. In Luke 2 verse 32 Simeon says that salvation in Christ is, “prepared in the presence of all peoples,” is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” Jesus is both the consolation of Israel that Simeon had waited for and the revelation of God’s salvation to all the nations of the earth. In Jesus, God’s promise to restore Israel is fulfilled. And in Jesus, God’s promise to bless “all the families of the earth” through Abraham is fulfilled. He is the one to fulfill all our hopes. Some of us may have grown weary in trusting God and waiting for Him to act on our behalf. So, I hope you'll be encouraged by Simeon's story to look to Jesus and wait for him by faith, wait in the spirit, and wait for Christ's return with hopeful anticipation. He will make all things right in the end. We must remember that God is not slow to act, as some understand slowness. He came in “the fullness of time” (Gal 4:4), and he will come again “on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:10). So, let us wait in hope, by faith, in the Spirit, for Christ. Until he comes again. Good things come to those who wait. Rev Tanya
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Relationships are important. Our relationship with God is of utmost importance. This relationship needs to be nurtured with time spent in God's word, talking with him and listening (in prayer), thinking about him, and getting to know him more closely, loving him more and receiving his love, and learning to trust and depend on him fully.
The psalms we have been reading in our Hope 25 Lenten Study help us to do this. The relationship that the psalmists have with God inspires us to deepen our relationship with God and trust him for our relationships with others. So, keep enjoying the psalms this week and be encouraged in our relationships with God and others. I always say, when we love God the most, we love others the best. Next week, beginning with Adam Copeland preaching this Sunday, we will look at the theme of HOPE in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah’s message is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. It offers us a beacon of hope and a reminder of God’s ever-present strength and care. I pray we will take comfort in God's words to us and allow them to rejuvenate our spirits, strengthen our faith, and fill us with encouragement and hope in all our circumstances. I wonder where you have found comfort and hope in God's word this week. With whom will you gently share the comfort and hope you have found in God’s unfailing promises? In Christ, Rev Tanya In difficult times such as these, we want to hear Deuteronomy’s promise that God will make us abundantly prosperous in our undertakings. Josh Mackenzie (CMS missionary) brought us a wonderful message from Deut 28:1-14 last week; beginning our “Hope in God’s Promises” sermon series.
This Sunday’s reading, Psalm 25, leads us to pause and contemplate what it means to prosper in God. Psalm 25 is not an expression of gratitude for a windfall (financial prosperity), but a heartfelt prayer of lament, trust and hope in God. To prosper in God is to adopt a stance in life that is embodied and embedded in prayer. “To you, O Lord, I lift my soul,” the psalmist declares (25:1). To lift up one’s soul to God means to lift up one’s hands in an outstretched position in prayer. The gesture signifies holding one’s conscious identity, one’s life, outstretched to God in sole and complete dependence upon God and God’s help. To pray, “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul” is a synonym for ‘In you I trust’ (verse 2) … and ‘I wait for you’ (verses 3-5, 21). To prosper in God is to own and acknowledge one’s utter dependence upon God. The soul lifted up to the Lord and set squarely on God trusts in God’s saving power and everlasting covenant and God’s teaching. So, if we are to be prosperous in Him, we must seek God’s guidance and follow His ways even if they are challenging and contradict what we understand it means to prosper. Through this psalm we are reminded that God’s instruction comes from prayer rather than study, from God rather than human wisdom and human teachers. To prosper in God is to trust God enough to receive His help and mercy. Prospering in God comes from actively trusting in God and eagerly longing for God’s response. Therefore, I encourage you to take on the same stance as the psalmist; bring your life before him, pray to God, actively acknowledge your utter dependence upon Him, and receive His help and guidance in every circumstance. No one who hopes and trusts in God will ever be put to shame (verse 3). May you remember that God is good, all the time! Yours in Christ, Rev Tanya Yesterday was International Women's Day and I had the privilege of attending a breakfast at Mornington Racecourse where I heard Hayley Cull speak. Hayley is the Deputy CEO of Plan International Australia, a leading humanitarian organisation focused on child rights and girls' equality. She spoke about the power of "Hope" in the lives of children and girls in extremely challenging situations. Hope is powerful!
In this broken, hurting world, we all need hope. The surest hope we can have is in the promises of God. They do not change. They are a sure foundation for building a more positive future. This is good news for the whole world, and we hope this year, many more people will hear about the Hope that is found in Jesus Christ. The Mackenzie family know and seek to share this hope with people they live among in the Northern Territory. They will share a little bit about their work with CMS this coming Sunday then Josh Mackenzie will bring a message from Deuteronomy 28:1-14. May we all find hope in God's promises in this passage and all of scripture. We have a God who keeps his promises. He gives us hope in a broken world. I hope to see you on Sunday, Blessings, Rev Tanya |
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