What are we Waiting For?

March 5, 2016

Opening Hymns:
711 For all the Saints http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh711.sht

Scripture Reading:

Psalm 130
130:1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.

130:2 Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!

130:3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?

130:4 But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.

130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;

130:6 my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.

130:7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.

130:8 It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Message:
Waiting isn’t any fun. Chances are that you have been taught how to wait since you were a child. We had to wait for the Jello to solidify in the fridge, wait till we were old enough to go to school, wait through the long school day until the bells rang. In today’s scripture the psalmist is talking about waiting for the Lord.

What does it mean to wait for the Lord? The psalmist is before Jesus’ time, and was waiting for Jesus’ coming. He is waiting for a time when all the iniquities would be wiped clean from Israel. Little did he know that Jesus would come to forgive all from their sins! Jesus’ gift and miracle was certainly something to wait and yearn for. However, though the psalmist is waiting and yearning it does not mean that he is sitting idlely by and watching the world pass. In his waiting there is action!

What are we waiting for? What should we do while we wait?.. In Mathew chapter 25, Jesus tells a parable about 10 women who go out to meet the bridegroom. 5 are wise and bring their lamps with extra oil, and 5 only bring their lamps. When the oil runs out the 5 women without extra need to go back to fetch some and aren’t ready when the bride groom arrives… They are then shut out.

We too are awaiting Jesus’ return. As we wait we must prepare our hearts for His coming. Through His teachings and selfless gift of love He has become our light. We keep the light burning bright in our hearts when we pray, read scripture, and share Jesus’ love with others.

Time of Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your selfless gift of Love. Thank You for becoming the light of our world. Help us to share Your light with those around us. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
440 Let There Be Light http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh440.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God