Wait for the Lord - Keep His Way
Did you ever wonder why first-century followers of Jesus were called "followers of the Way"? (Acts 9:2; Acts 19:9,23; Acts 22:4; Acts 24:14,22)
One explanation can be found in Acts 18: 24-26:
Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
Paul was teaching "the way of the Lord" to persons of peace - like Priscilla and Aquila. These people of peace (PoP) were multiplying the teaching by passing it to faithful men like Apollos. In effect, Paul, Pricilla, Aquila and Apollos were modeling 2 Timothy 2:2 long before Paul wrote that letter to Timothy.
This month, we'll focus on another aspect of knowing, understanding, and keeping the way of the Lord - Waiting for Him. Our key verse in this context is Psalm 37:34a: "Wait for the LORD and keep His way"(NASB)
Psalm 37 provides comprehensive teaching about the "way of the LORD".
- Faith and Trust are overarching themes for the way of the Lord.
- Verse 3 - Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
- Verse 5 - Commit your way to the LORD; trust also in Him, and He will do it.
2. Delight in the Lord. This is another overarching theme to knowing and understanding The Way.
- Verse 4 - Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart.
- Verse 23 - The steps of a man are established by the LORD, and He delights in his way.
3. Rest in the LORD and Wait patiently for Him.
- Verse 7a - Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him
-
- Verse 9b - But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.
- Verse 34a - Wait for the LORD and keep His way
4. Righteousness. Another sign post on the Way.
- Verse 6 - He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.
- Verses 16-18 - Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD sustains the righteous. The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will be forever.
- Verses 29-31 - The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
5. Keeping the Way leads to Salvation.
- Verses 39-40 - But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.
- Verses 23-24 - The steps of a man are established by the LORD, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.
Much too often, I rely on my own strength. I trust my instincts. I rely on my on talents and abilities.
How can I learn to trust God more? I need to learn to WAIT.
How can I learn to delight in HIM? I need to learn to WAIT.
How can I learn to stay on the path of righteousness? I need to learn to WAIT.
I need to memorize and meditate on Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Much too often, I find myself tired of running the race and fighting the fight (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). I find that there are more tasks to be done than I have time for. There are more projects than time or money. Do you share these thoughts?
How can I find the strength to run the race? I need to learn to WAIT.
How can I find the strength to fight the fight? I need to learn to WAIT.
How can I find the resources to accomplish what God has called me to do? I need to learn to WAIT.
I need to memorize and meditate on Isaiah 40: 28-31(NASB). Do you not know? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary.
I can decide each day to be like the young, foolish eagle - or the wise, and more experienced mother eagle.
- The young eagle wants to show off his new wings. He darts down the mountain - chasing prey. He uses his own strength and might. Very soon, this young eagle grows tired and cannot endure a long chase.
- The mother eagle knows better. She waits at the top of the crest of the mountain. What is she waiting for? She waits for the wind. She knows that if she catches the wind, she can soar on that wind, saving her own strength. She uses the energy of the wind so that she can endure the long chase. In Hebrew, the word ruwach means wind. It also means Spirit. Now that you know this small factoid, hopefully the metaphor used in Isaiah 40 - mounting up with wings like eagles - will become even more meaningful.
Can you now see and understand this math equation?
Waiting for the LORD = Keeping the Way of the Lord
Next Month - This is the Way, walk in it.
View this article on our website.