How to Wait Well: Excitedly and Expectantly!

by David Chadwick

How to wait well. It’s something we all must learn when Jesus becomes the Lord of our lives. I believe as we cultivate strength in our ability to wait well, we are developing eternal qualities as we await our soon and coming Savior.

Today, I want to urge you to learn to wait excitedly and expectantly!

These are two adverbs that should describe our attitudes toward Jesus’s Second Coming.

Jesus is coming back! We must all turn our gaze toward heaven and prioritize the skill of learning how to wait well for our soon and coming King.

Be excited! Why? Because when Jesus returns, he will usher in a brand new kingdom. His kingdom is unshakeable (Hebrews 12:28). It will be a place where all things will be made new. All means all! Every part of this broken, selfish, polluted world will be made new. We will live in a sinless world! And live forever.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore…” (Revelation 21:4).

No more enemies! No more death! No more pain! No more heartbreak! No more betrayal! Doesn’t that excite you?

Be excited. But also be expectant. Jesus’s return could happen any day now. Any moment. The early church theologians called it the doctrine of immanence. It will happen in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52). We should say every day, “Yes, Lord, I’m ready. If you come today, I’m ready.”

And I believe with all my heart that Jesus will be excited and expectant to meet you as well! His bride. The one he loves with all of his heart. The object of his affection. The reason he endured death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).

As he greets you, I’m sure he will say to those who have placed their trust in him, “Well done!”

How to Wait Well: Be Self-Controlled and Sober-Minded

by David Chadwick

In order to wait well, we must practice. We must strengthen the muscles that our flesh would tend to let atrophy—especially our minds. As we crucify our flesh and feed our spirits, we will become stronger and stronger.

Here is today’s tip for how to wait well: Be self-controlled and sober-minded.

This is a clear command from God’s Word, found in 1 Peter 4:7. It starts off by saying, “The end of all things is at hand…” Then comes this command, “Therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” I would say that’s a pretty strong warning for the end of the age.

The definition of these two terms, self-controlled and sober-minded, are obvious, but let us look a bit deeper beyond what is seen at first glance.

Self-controlled. Self! Controlled. You control yourself. Your decisions. Your choices. You are not under the authority of anyone or anything other than the Holy Spirit. You are able to guard your tongue, guard your eyes, discern correctly, and live righteously.

Sober-minded. A sober mind. You aren’t under the influence of any drug or alcohol. You guard your mind. You are free from addiction altogether. No pornography. No substance. No power can cause your mind to become intoxicated toward Satan’s wiles.

In the name of Jesus, I am here to remind you today that any addiction that has bound you and placed you in prison has no power over you. YOU ARE FREE! The enemy doesn’t control you. Nor do the lusts of your flesh. If you are in Christ you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and it is now the Spirit who guides you to make right decisions under his power. But we must choose to live this way. After all, we are the sum of all our life choices.

Did you notice, too, how whatever is chosen is directly connected with our prayer life?

May Jesus find you under his control and power when he returns. “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

Then you will surely hear him say, “Well done!”

How to Wait Well: Love Your Neighbor

by David Chadwick

Such a simple concept that requires tremendous patience. Loving your neighbor is a skill that, if developed, will strengthen your ability to wait well. It helps you to become long-suffering.

Many don’t realize that this is an Old Testament command from Leviticus 19:18. God instructed his people to live as a different kind of people in his Promised Land. He urged his people toward loving one another.

Jesus seized further upon this idea in Mark 12:30-31, where he urged his followers to love God first and then to love our neighbor. Did you know that one of the greatest ways we can show love for our God is to love those whom he loves the most? He created mankind in his image and in spite of the flaws of humanity, God still loves us (John 3:16).

My dad was once asked by a friend how he could best thank my dad for doing all that he had done to help this man know Jesus. My dad simply responded, “Express love to one of my kids.” This man did---to me! He gifted me with a new suit that I was able to take to college! How grateful I was for the kind gift he bestowed upon me. He showed love to my dad by showing love to his son.

Who is your neighbor? When asked this question, Jesus essentially said, “Yes!” The entire world is desperately in need of encountering the true love of the Father.

So, as you love the person next door by making a visit or fixing a meal, when you send a financial gift to help alleviate suffering worldwide, as you display an act of love to someone, guess what? You are loving your neighbor!

When Jesus returns, let him find you fully surrendered to him and wholeheartedly loving someone. Your neighbor. Your spouse. Your child. Your friend.

Find someone to love and you will surely hear his, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”