“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits. And in His Word I hope” Psalm 130
Eternity is ours. Jesus is risen and we shall arise. We’ve heard His Word and now we wait in it and for it. We live and wait while experiencing things that are broken in us and around us, the very reasons Jesus gave His life on the cross. While we wait, and experience the problems of life, we remember God’s Word that these things do not define us or own us. They will not be the end of us who are in Christ. While we wait, we hope with a beautiful, thrilling hope fueled by the Word of God, the Word of Good News. We exclaim, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!” And wonder at the love for God we might express on this side of heaven, the love of God that brings Glory to His name as we love others joyfully and at times less joyfully, even sacrificially.
Psalm 130 is the prayer of hopeful people.
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” (ESV)
In my 43 years of life, 10 as your pastor at Zion, my experience in Christ has been varied and eventful. I’ve learned to wait for the Lord to fulfill His promises while serving His means of grace. I’ve experienced His miracles of soul-healing. I’ve witnessed in others His provision for physical and spiritual needs after prayers have been lifted. There have been inexplicable healings in bodies, in marriages, and in friendships as baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and God’s law and gospel word have brought Christ to bear on lives who receive Him with faith. Brothers and sisters in Christ have died in these ten years, and Jesus says He has redeemed them and taken them home.
You have blessed me and my family in so many ways in the name of Jesus. Please forgive any missteps I’ve made along the way in this journey with Jesus that we are on together. I treasure the memories He has given me with you in worship and so many other settings of work, play, and need (yes, including bed side as loved ones were taking their final breaths). Together we have waited for the Lord with hopefulness fueled by Christ’s victory in the cross and eternal promises for His children.
Eternally grateful,
Pastor Stephen
