waiter on the lord
"She got up at once and began to wait on Him." —Matthew 8:15
"They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles" (Is 40:31, RSV-CE). Many Christians say they are "waiting on the Lord." By this, they mean that they are waiting for God to open up an opportunity or to give them discernment. While it's a good idea to be patient and to discern God's will, we would probably do better if we were "waiting on the Lord" in a different sense. We need to be waiters and waitresses who serve the Lord, as Abraham and Sarah did when they offered hospitality to the Lord and two angels (Gn 18:5ff). We need to wait on the Lord as did Simon Peter's mother-in-law (Mt 8:15).
We are the Lord's waiters when we no longer live for ourselves but for Him (2 Cor 5:15). We are waiters on the Lord when we live to obey Him, when we love Him so much that we delight to deny ourselves (Lk 9:23) and do His will (see Ps 40:9).
When we wait on the Lord by being more than His servants but even His slaves (Col 3:24), we see the glory of God and receive divine revelation as did Abraham (see Gn 18:10ff). Be a waiter on the Lord.
Prayer: Father, make me a most attentive waiter (Ps 123:1ff).
Promise: "As evening drew on, they brought Him many who were possessed. He expelled the spirits by a simple command and cured all who were afflicted." —Mt 8:16
Praise: Josh loves being a servant of God and waits in "joyful hope" for whatever his God requires of him.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet Accepting Jesus as Lord, Savior, and God or on audio AV 43-1 or video V-43.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 1, 2011
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