"Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors." Proverbs 8:34
The anticipation of his arrival. The excitement. It was almost time. Clock watching. Window peering. Any second now the car should be appearing. Suddenly my eyes caught sight of the one for whom I'd been waiting. With a squeal of delight accompanying the sound of running footsteps, I hurried to swing open the door. In just a moment I would be giggling with delight, held in the arms of the one I was longing to see. Daddy's home.
This memory flooded back this morning as I read the verse from Proverbs. Watching daily at the gates. Waiting at the doors. Every afternoon it was the same. The expectancy never waned. It never became routine or tiresome. Neither did the pleasure found in the moment of first sight. Happiness swells in my heart even now as I close my eyes and relive the absolute elation of welcoming daddy home.
Am I as eager each day to see Jesus? I'm not so much speaking of His return to earth, although certainly we are to be watching for Him, but what about His presence in our daily lives? How would watching at the gates and waiting at the door posts look today?
I love the way "The Message" has reframed this verse. "Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listen to me, awake and ready for me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day's work."
Do you start your day with anticipation of 'seeing' the Lord? We see Him primarily in His Word. Are you daily spending time with Him? Are you "awake and ready", "alert and responsive" to God's activity around you? In the Bible Study, "Experiencing God" by Henry and Richard Blackaby and Claude King, the student of God's Word is reminded that God is always at work. The tragedy lies in encountering Him daily, yet failing to recognize Him. We don't recognize Him because we don't really know Him, nor are we actively looking for Him. We've neglected the time it takes to watch at the gates and wait at the doors.
Today I want to be awake and ready, alert and responsive. Lord, fill my heart with an even greater passion to watch and wait. Renew my excitement as I pull back the curtains of complacency and anticipate the sound of Your footsteps in my life today.
2 comments:
What sweet, sweet memories you have of your Daddy! I'm so glad that you had a good Christian home and such wonderful relationships with both your parents. I feel sorry for people whose parents were estranged from them before leaving this world. No happy memories for them. And I love how you brought out the comparison of us waiting and watching for our Lord Jesus to come! I can't wait! :)
You have painted a lovely portrait! You were very a very fortunate child! I dreaded it when my dad came home. I would hide in my bedroom all evening while he was there. It was not at all like the pleasant experience that you describe. I am very thankful, though that I do anticipate meeting with my Father God. It is the hilight of my day and my life.
This was a wonderful post, Joy! Delightful!
Thank you for sharing on my blog today. I posted it in the wee morning hours. Later in the morning I was reading my prayer journal by Beth Moore and the devotion for today was talking about Luke 7, the very chapter that I referred to on my post. Thank you so much for your thoughts! They mean the world!
Love and hugs,
Cheri
cheribunch.blogspot.com
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