During Advent, most of us think of Christ’s coming to us in the form of a baby, born in the manger.  We celebrate that image because to us, it represents the beginning of our salvation.  And while that image represents the beginning of our salvation, it also represents the fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 7:14).  It lives as a testament to what it means to be patient and how our impatience can sabotage our faith.  And so, we don’t often consider patience as God’s example of Christ.  Our vision of Christ is as a conqueror and a victor over the last enemy death.  Yet, there were other enemies of Christ, of which impatience was one.  Even in his day, those who walked with him and though they understood his role and purpose on earth wanted him to “hurry up” and bring the kingdom of God.  It is believed by some that they — one in particular — became so impatient that they forced the issue resulting in Jesus’ death.

        But what if Christ’s purpose was not just to save us, but to live showing us an example of his lived life.  If we hold Paul’s word as truth, then Christ also came to — as Paul says, “display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”  If Advent is indeed our season of waiting for Christ to come, then our objective should be to wait in faith, developing our patience as an homage to our Christ who was so patient with us.

• What does it mean for you to wait in faith knowing that your waiting is an opportunity to imitate Christ by showing others our patience?
• On a scale between 1 and 10 with 10 being the highest amount of patience, where would you rate your level of patience?
• What do you believe you have to do to reach a 10?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Merciful Lord, teach me how to grow and develop my patience as I wait in faith for You to return.

         If you’ve ever said or heard these phrases — “Are we there, yet?”  “Has it arrived, yet?”  “Are you through, yet?” — then, you’ve seen or experienced the emotions of impatience, either within yourself, or from other people.  It’s not an uncommon thing for people to experience impatience.  It’s an emotion that let’s others know that we— or they — have reached the limit of our willingness to wait any longer.  Our internal clock of endurance has run its limit and we find ourselves wrestling with all of the accompanying feelings of insecurity.  And within that emotion lies our anxieties, our anticipation, our expectations, and in some real ways our hope.  It just seems that when those emotions aren’t met, we tend to become irritable.  Perhaps we even begin to grumble at each other, with each other, or maybe even about each other.  And hearing the traditional answer — “Be patient!” — does nothing to quell the storm of impatience within us.  And it’s easier said than done.  And yet, developing patience is one of the greatest gifts we can master to calm our nerves, lay our anxieties to rest, and give us a sense of inner peace.

           One answer to our lack of patience is learning to wait in faith.  The word of God tells us, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.”  Within the realm of faith lies our belief that whatever it is we’re waiting for will surely come, whether it’s the end of a challenging circumstance, or our dissatisfaction with the current situation in our world.  It is waiting in faith — living with the certainty that what we hope for will come, that what we expect to come will arrive, that what we desire most is just outside of our ability to realize it, but is coming — that makes patience such a rewarding and valuable gift.  Waiting in faith is visible and spiritual evidence that our confidence is in God ability to be faithful to all that God has promised.  It says that God is still in control or our lives, and that what God has promised is more certain than the temporary delay of our God’s promises that cause us to become impatient.  In many ways, patience is an opportunity to show our forbearance with God’s and each other’s impatience.  And perhaps it adds some truth to the old adage that — “A watched pot never boils”.

• When has your faith in what was to come ever been rewarded because of your patience?
• When has your impatience ever made anything come or happen any faster?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Merciful Christ, help me develop greater patience as I learn to wait faithfully, calm my worries, and strengthen the hope of Your presence and Your coming within me.

Ephesians 4:1-2 (paraphrased)
As a child of God and servant of the Lord, then, let me live a life worthy of the calling I have received, by being completely humble, gentle, and patient, making allowance for each other’s faults in love.

         What Messiah are you waiting for?  When we think of Advent, our attention is focused on the coming of the Messiah.  And we are often pointed toward that harmless little infant lying on straw in a manger.  And yet, that’s only a thumbnail sketch of who that baby born in a manger really is.  And so, which Messiah are you waiting for.  Are you waiting for that innocent babe lying in a manger, young, in some ways dependent on his parent’s care, on whose shoulders the government of his peoples will rest, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end (Isaiah 9:6-7)?

         Or are you waiting for the Messiah that comes with the power, allowing the sun of righteousness to make us rise with healing in our wings, giving us new life and energy, ready to become — by the power of God — judge and vindicator of evil and wickedness in the world?  Or is it possible that in our waiting, we’re actually waiting on both Messiah’s — one who comes to institute justice and peace and another (but the same Messiah) who comes fulfilling the images of power and authority, righteousness, judgment, and vindication and truth?  The words to the song, “Mary Did You Know?” sheds some light on the subject.  The lyrics say,

               Mary, did you know that your baby boy

               Is Lord of all creation?

               Mary, did you know that your baby boy

               Would one day rule the nations?

               Did you know that your baby boy

               Is heaven's perfect Lamb?

               That sleeping child you're holding is the great, I Am

         It’s easier to accept the image of the child Messiah who appears harmless and vulnerable wrapped in bands of cloth.  That image of the Messiah makes our wait for him much easier and comforting to deal with.  After all, what harm can a little baby do?  But what if the other is also packed in that manger as we await that reveal to us?  Perhaps Advent is a time to consider the coming of the Messiah in ALL of his glory and praise him as Savior, Redeemer, and Deliverer.

• How does the image of the Messiah coming to restore us and exact justice on evil affect your thoughts of baby Jesus?
• Which Jesus do you prefer to wait to receive and why?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Almighty God, as I wait while I’m waiting for your coming in the flesh, help me to be aware of Your full glory — that you came to save us, institute justice, and reveal God’s light and truth to us all.