WAITING: Goodbook 07-19-12

Goodbook messages arrive every Monday, Thursday, and Friday with a Scripture reading and ideas for how to apply the reading in our lives. We are reading through the book of Acts. For additional Scripture reading, you can follow the Advanced Track.

Reading: Acts 17:13-17
(Advanced Track: Nahum 1-3)

¹³ But when some Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, they went there and stirred up trouble. ¹⁴ The believers acted at once, sending Paul on to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind. ¹⁵ Those escorting Paul went with him all the way to Athens; then they returned to Berea with instructions for Silas and Timothy to hurry and join him. ¹⁶ While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. ¹⁷ He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.

Application:

I don’t know of too many people who like waiting.  I’m not one of them.  I don’t like waiting in lines, waiting in traffic, waiting in a doctor’s office, waiting for things to happen, waiting for results, etc.  I don’t like waiting.

I’m not sure if Paul really liked waiting either.  He was a person of action.  He liked to go places and get things done.

But here in our reading, Paul had to wait.  The people of Thessalonica had again stirred up trouble against Paul and his traveling companions.  Paul was separated from his close partners, Silas and Timothy.  Paul made it safely to Athens, but he had to wait for Silas and Timothy to join him.  Then, they could continue their planned missionary journey.

Paul had to wait.  But he did not get frustrated over the fact that he had to wait.  Instead, he found an opportunity to serve God and reach people while he was waiting.  Paul noticed that the city was filled with idols, but few people had a knowledge or relationship with the true God.  Paul made use of the time he was waiting to speak with the people in the area about God.

Is that how your mind works when you are waiting?  Are you thinking about ways you can serve God and reach people while you are waiting?  That is not how my mind works on most days.  But Paul has inspired me to think this way while I am waiting.

The next time we are waiting, rather than getting frustrated, let’s think about how we can serve God and reach people.  Is there a person waiting near you that you can strike up a conversation with?  Is the waiting a pause for you to pray for people and pray for God’s direction?  Is there someone you can call while you or waiting.  Is there a book you could read or something you could listen to during your down time that would better prepare you to serve God and reach people?  The possibilities are endless, if we think about it.  What are we waiting for?  Let’s do it!

1) Make your wait time a time to serve God and reach people.

Share your comments and ideas about how to apply this...