Luke 8:40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. But do we, like the people of Capernaum, gladly receive Him, and are we all waiting for Him? The true child of God regards Christ as the "chiefest among ten thousand," and the "one altogether lovely." Rich are the promises made to those who thus faithfully wait upon Him. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." "The Lord is good to them that wait for Him." "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thy heart." "Those that wait upon the Lord, shall inherit the earth." "Keep mercy, and wait upon thy God continually." "And mind this other thing, prescribe nothing to God. If thou hast begun to wait, faint not, give not up, wait on still. It were good reason, were it but upon little hope at length to find Him; but since it is upon the unfailing assurance that in the end thou shalt obtain, what folly were it to lose all for want of waiting a little longer?" Thus it is that God waits for us, and we wait for Him. He waits for the fit times and seasons of His own appointment, that He may be gracious; and we wait patiently upon Him in the means and ordinances of grace, tarrying the Lord's leisure, until He bring it to pass. We must wait for Jesus at such times as He may appoint, and one of these special times is the Lord's Day. But we must wait for Jesus in the spirit which He requires. In order to a full enjoyment of Christ, there must be not only a waiting for Him, but also a glad receiving of Him. The coming in of Christ into the heart always begets gladness in that heart. This spiritual gladness is an important element of Christian character because, like sunshine, it brightens all within and reflects its glow on all without. But there are those who are conscious to themselves that they are not waiting for Christ, and have not gladly received Him. It is a blessed state to be in, to be waiting for Jesus — to have the soul in that position of expectancy that looks and longs for His appearing. (Bp. Stevens.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. |
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