Wait on the Lord

Our spiritual lives are a lot like the young tree in this picture. Someone had to take a great deal of time to tend it - water it, turn its soil, etc. - in order for it to grow into what you see here. Such care requires a great deal of patience. Trees don't grow overnight. Neither does our spiritual life. It must be tended with great care and patience, and growth will result. The young bud of our spiritual life might not be growing as rapidly as we would like, but, with the Lord's help, it will eventually blossom into a full-grown, mature testament to His work in our lives.

Perhaps the growth rate of your spiritual life isn't what's worrying you right now. You may be facing a trial or difficulty that, if you're honest, you want out of as quickly as possible. God has a reason for allowing that trial to come into your life. Your job is to patiently endure through the trial as long as God allows it to remain in your life and to learn as much as you can from it (much easier said than done, I know).

Trees are strengthened by storms. We are spiritually strengthened by trials.


"It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God's warriors than standing still. There are hours of perplexity when the most willing spirit, anxiously desirous to serve the Lord, knows not what part to take. 

"Then what shall it do? Vex itself by despair? Fly back in cowardice, turn to the right hand in fear, or rush forward in presumption? 

"No, but simply wait. 

"Wait in prayer, however. Call upon God, and spread the case before Him; tell Him your difficulty, and plead His promise of aid. In dilemmas between one duty and another, it is sweet to be humble as a child, and wait with simplicity of soul upon the Lord. It is sure to be well with us when we feel and know our own folly, and are heartily willing to be guided by the will of God. But wait in faith. Express your unstaggering confidence in Him; for unfaithful, untrusting waiting, is but an insult to the Lord. Believe that if He keep you tarrying even till midnight, yet He will come at the right time; the vision shall come and shall not tarry. Wait in quiet patience, not rebelling because you are under the affliction, but blessing your God for it. 

"Never murmur against the second cause, as the children of Israel did against Moses; never wish you could go back to the world again, but accept the case as it is, and put it as it stands, simply and with your whole heart, without any self-will, into the hand of your covenant God, saying, 'Now, Lord, not my will, but Thine be done. I know not what to do; I am brought to extremities, but I will wait until Thou shalt cleave the floods, or drive back my foes. I will wait, if Thou keep me many a day, for my heart is fixed upon Thee alone, O God, and my spirit waiteth for Thee in the full conviction that Thou wilt yet be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower.' "                                           

- C.H. Spurgeon

Let none that wait on thee be ashamed:

Psalm 25:3

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalm 27:14

Those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Psalm 37:9

I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints. 

Psalm 52:9

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. 

Psalm 62:5

I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 

Psalm 130:5

Wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Proverbs 20:22

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

Isaiah 40:31

The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. 

Lamentations 3:25-26

I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

Micah 7:7

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Marks of the Christian Life

What does a Christian look like?

In other words: what qualities are Christians characterized by? What kind of speech does a Christian use? How do Christians treat others? How do Christians handle conflict?

Let's take a look at Colossians 3 for some answers to these questions.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. {Colossians 3:12-15}

This passage paints a clear and direct picture of the marks of the Christian life.

Let's break this down, shall we?

{ ... holy and beloved ... } This describes our position in Christ as "the elect of God." The remaining qualities in the list are a natural outpouring of this.

{ ... bowels of mercies ... } Those who owe so much to the mercy of the Father are to be merciful to those who need mercy (see Luke 6:36).

{ ... kindness ... } Christians are characterized by a kindness that extends to everyone, not just those who are kind to us.

{ ... humbleness of mind ... } A Christian practices a humble mindset and thought pattern to match a humble demeanor (see Matthew 11:29 and Philippians 2:3).

{ ... meekness ... } Christians patiently bear the anger of others and bridle their own anger towards those who have provoked them.

{ ... longsuffering ... } Continued forbearance and patience towards those who continue to provoke (see I Corinthians 13:4). Since God is longsuffering, Christians are to exercise longsuffering to others in the same fashion.

{ ... forbearing one another ... } We all have something that others need patience to bear with. In the same way, we should patiently bear with others in what is disagreeable to us. In other words, Christians are to be characterized by a mutual patience for the imperfections we all have as sinful, fallen creatures.

{ ... forgiving one another ... even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye ... } Quarrels happen, even among "the elect of God." But it is our duty to forgive each other. A Christian is characterized by a readiness and willingness to forgive, because Christ forgave us.

{ ... put on charity ... } Unconditional love ("charity") is the capstone of the Christian faith, and an overriding principle in a Christian's life.

{ ... let the peace of God rule in your hearts ... } The Christian life is marked by a peaceable disposition, a peaceable spirit that keeps the peace and makes peace. This "peace of God" is working in all of those who are His. We are called to this peace - the privilege of peace with God and the duty of peace with our brothers and sisters as a body in Christ.

{ ... be ye thankful ... } Gratitude towards God and the provisions He has made for us (spiritual, material, etc.) is an important mark of the Christian life because He deserves our gratitude. It also sets the tone for a person's attitude, their disposition toward others and their outlook on life.

Colossians 3:12-15 serves as an excellent checklist for what the Christian life looks like. Each quality is just as important as the other. They all work together to exemplify Christ.

Prayerfully meditate on this checklist and ask the Lord to show you which qualities are lacking in your life. None of us are perfect, so none of us will ever exemplify Christ perfectly. We are not called to be perfect - we are called to strive toward Christ-likeness.

What does a Christian look like?

A Christian looks like Christ.

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What Children Can Teach Us

"Every child you encounter is a divine appointment." {Wess Stafford}

"Only where children gather is there any real chance of fun." {Mignon McLaughlin}

"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children." {Nelson Mandela}

"Children are our most valuable resource." {Herbert Hoover}

"Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven." {Henry Ward Beecher}

That's just a small sampling of the many, many things have been said about children. Whether you are a parent, a grandparent, or someone who has interacted with children in various settings, you know how trying children can be for your sanctification (*wink*). Although children certainly can be a handful, there are a great many things we "older folks" can learn from them.

Scripture has plenty to say about this.

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

{Psalm 127:3}

Children are blessings from the Lord, and are to be treated accordingly. If God has entrusted children to your care, He has given you the privilege of being responsible for the lives - both physical and spiritual - of those little blessings.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 

{Proverbs 22:6}

If you are a parent, you are responsible for your child's growth and development - physical, emotional, spiritual, and in every other aspect. Yes, this includes training and instruction, but they also learn by example and observation. You know the saying: "Actions speak louder than words." Children are watching you and learning from you, even if you aren't always conscious of it. Someone has said, "Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate."

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. 

{Proverbs 22:15}

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 

{Proverbs 23:13}

A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. 

{Proverbs 29:15}

Children are fallen, sinful people, just like we "older folks" are. Discipline is a necessary aspect of biblical parenthood in order to raise children who fear God, obey authority and respect others. However, this does not justify abuse or neglect. It must be done in such a way that the child understands it is being done out of love for him/her.

Jesus had much to say regarding children.

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, ad said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. {Matthew 18:1-6}

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. {Mark 10:15}

Children have a simple, humble faith and trust in those they love (parents, grandparents, older siblings, etc). They have a confident expectation that those who love them will take care of them. That's the kind of faith Jesus tells us is part of the process of salvation.

Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. {Matthew 19:13-14}

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. {Mark 10:13-14, 16}

Jesus chided the disciples for trying to keep the children away from Him. They were just as important to Him as the adults He was ministering to.

Children bring a tremendous amount of joy and laughter wherever they go, and that certainly is a blessing. God manifests His sense of humor through the amusing things children do and say. Some of the funniest things I've ever heard have come from the mouths of children.

When children are selfish and/or disobedient, it can certainly try our patience as we seek to discourage such behavior, discipline them for it (when necessary), and try to encourage obedient, others-focused behavior. Such times serve as a sobering rebuke about how we treat God and/or respond to His commands sometimes.

A Little Child

The nature of a little child, I simply could not see

How such a nature could become a part of me.

The pride of years would never let my Savior to the Throne,

But crowned me King and kept me where I reigned, just I alone.

This pride, oh, what a horrid thing! Kept me from bending low,

So, through the Kingdom's door, you see, I simply could not go.

Thus all the beauty of His realm was on the other side;

Oh, what I missed, oh, what I lacked, because of my old pride!

Then, oh the wonder of that day, I saw what I should do;

I said, "Lord Jesus, I step down and give the throne to You."

And so when I by faith obeyed, a miracle of grace,

Within this haughty heart of mine, that moment did take place.

For all at once I knew, I felt humble and meek and mild,

And saw that God had given me the nature of a child.

Now, would I, dare I, could I try once more the Kingdom's door?

I longed to, yet it looked so low, so near unto the floor.

But beckoned by the pierced Hand which had removed my sin,

Upon my knees, now weak and small a child, I entered in.

I entered in, oh bless the day, I entered through that door,

And all His Kingdom lay ahead for children to explore.

And so, diminished as I am, stripped of all else but grace,

I live, a trusting little child, and look upon His face.

And now there is but One supreme who rules and wears the crown,

And that great miracle began the moment I stepped down.

Now it's your turn: do you have any additional thoughts or insights? What other lessons can you think of that the Lord has taught you through children? Leave a comment below!

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Fruits of the Spirit: Love

Now, before you think that I'm about to get all mushy and lovey-dovey on you, let me assure you that is not my intention at all. The goal of this post is to examine the first fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. {Galatians 5:22-23}

Many people have tried to define love, both in secular and spiritual terms. One of my favorites:

Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark 

That looks on tempests and is never shaken; 

                      Sonnet 116, William Shakespeare 

For the purposes of this post, I believe C.S. Lewis defines it better than anyone else.

"Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained."

We can glean from these two quotes that true love is consistent and steady, no matter what may come its way.


What does the Bible have to say about love? Some examples from Scripture:

We are to love God completely.

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. {Deuteronomy 6:5}

 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. {Matthew 22:37}

 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. {Mark 12:30}

 We are to love the foreigner/stranger.

Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. {Deuteronomy 10:19}

 We are to love God's law.

O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. {Psalm 119:97}

Love covers sin.

Love covereth all sins. {Proverbs 10:12b}

Charity shall cover the multitude of sins. {I Peter 4:8b}

We are to love our enemies.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; {Matthew 5:44} 

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, {Luke 6:27} 

 We are to love our neighbor.

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. {Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31}

 Christ's love for us is a reflection of the love of God the Father.

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. {John 15:9}

Christ's showed His love for us through His sacrifice.

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. {John 3:16}

 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  {Romans 5:8} 

Another word used in Scripture to describe this concept of love is "charity." I Corinthians 13 is the to-go passage to understand what biblical love ("charity") looks like.

(1) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 

(2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 

(3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 

(4) Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

(5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 

(6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 

(7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

(8) Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

(9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

(10) But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

(11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

(12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

(13) And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

What can we learn about love ("charity") from I Corinthians 13?

1. Anything done without love is meaningless (vs. 1-3). 

"Without [love], the most glorious gifts are of no account to us, of no esteem in the sight of God. A clear head and a deep understanding, are of no value without a benevolent and charitable heart. There may be an open and lavish hand, where there is not a liberal and charitable heart. Doing good to others will do none to us, if it be not done from love to God, and good-will to men. If we give away all we have, while we withhold the heart from God, it will not profit." {Matthew Henry}

2. Love is long-suffering, kind and humble. It is not envious (v. 4).

3. Love always behaves appropriately. It is not self-seeking, easily provoked, or quick to think ill of others (v. 5).

4. Love delights in truth (v. 6).

5. Love patiently endures everything. It always hopes for and believes the best (v. 7).

6. Love never fails (v.8).

7. Love is the greatest virtue a Christian can possess (v.13).

"How excellent would Christianity appear to the world, if those who profess it were more under this Divine principle, and paid due regard to the command on which its blessed Author laid the chief stress! Let us ask whether this Divine love dwells in our hearts. Has this principle guided us into becoming behaviour to all men? Are we willing to lay aside selfish objects and aims? Here is a call to watchfulness, diligence, and prayer ... Where God is to be seen as he is, and face to face, there charity is in its greatest height; there only will it be perfected."                                                                                  Matthew Henry

Do you have any thoughts you would like to add to this? Are there any verses or principles you know of that describe love or give instruction on how we can exhibit love in our lives? 

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