O LORD, Have We Waited For thee!

Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. - Isaiah 26:8

    In the place where God’s Word is proclaimed; where the Lord Jesus Christ manifests himself in the preaching of the Gospel, the desire of the souls of the children of God is—waiting with anticipation of hearing of him. The hearing of the Gospel brings him to remembrance and stirs our souls to worship. This the child of God diligently, joyfully seeks—I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord (Ps 122:1).

    The nominal, casual professor has no real heart or craving for Christ, and finds every excuse that he can to justify absenting himself from the public worship of God. He tries to blame providence or lays the blame at someone else’s door. The fact is, everyone does pretty much what they want (except when providence does indeed make it impossible) as the means and opportunity is provided. We are found at the dinner table when it is time for the evening meal. So, those that hunger and thirst after Christ are found gathered together feasting upon Christ, when it is time to hear the Gospel.

    I fear many have arrived at the doctrines of Christ and yet never come to Christ. As God has given every living thing a desire for food, he has given all of his people a desire for the bread from heaven. We know the food is delicious, because of who it is that beckons us to come and sit at his table. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine (Jn 21:12).

    The Psalmist spoke for every awakened sinner when he said, One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple (Ps 74:4).

    For the believer, the most pleasant, peaceful, satisfying place on this earth is with other believers worshipping Christ their Lord, in the preaching and hearing of the Gospel. May God in grace and mercy give us an insatiable, perpetual hunger for Christ and his Gospel!