The promises of God ultimately and always turn into the blessings of God. He rests outside of time, and so what feels like a delay or feels like forever, is simply a step closer to fulfillment.
I intentionally used the past few days of NOT writing an advent plan to deepen our awareness of what the years of silence must have felt like to people who were used to hearing a Word from God. Sometimes waiting is loud.
And yet, in Matthew, our reading draws us into a look at the child the Israelites were waiting for as a man. Yes, I know I skipped the birth, but I promise we’ll get to it tomorrow. What’s striking is at the beginning of Matthew, the Bible says, now it came to pass, and this detail in scripture might be missed. This phrase indicates the time God designated for Christ to enter the world and begin His ministry.
What’s the point, you may be asking? God owns time, and there are infinite ways He disrupts our lives to bring about His plan and purpose In perfect timing. Here, the One who was promised to come and take away the sins of the world reminds His cousin that He is the One scriptures prophesied would come.
There are things in your life that you’re waiting for, and it could be this week, month, or next year when God looks out over you and says with joy, “now it came to pass.” When He does, it will be a measure of His faithfulness and His perfect timing. Shelah.
Matthew 11:1-10
Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written:
‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’