Waiting in the Living Room
"But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." Matthew 13:16-17
A few weeks after Lauren and I started dating, she left for East Asia with Campus Crusade. In my mind, I already knew I didn't want to look any more and that I'd be waiting for her when she got back. It was only 7 weeks, so in hind sight it really wasn't a big deal. I remember figuring out the time difference and calculating what time it was there. I remember checking my phone compulsively, hoping one of her sparse (and expensive) text messages would come through. My friends thought I was crazy, which I was, but I was so filled with longing for her it wasn't possible to not think about her all the time and count down the days till she came back. (Yes, this is cheesy and mushy gushy...so eat it up). When she did finally come back, all I wanted to do was hang out with her. I didn't care if it was just to do laundry or unpack or whatever, I just wanted to be with her.
In Matthew 13, Jesus gives his disciples an important reminder of the significance of what was happening. Lauren was gone for seven weeks, and all I could do was think about her coming back. For those before Jesus, they waited 100's of years, most without ever actually meeting and knowing their Messiah. They longed to hear his words, to see his miracles, and to know their good shepherd's voice. As I read this, I realized how much I neglect the gift of Jesus' presence. It would have been weird if Lauren had gotten back from East Asia and come to see me for the first time and I just left her waiting in my living room while I finished watching TV. But that's exactly what I do to Jesus. I have the privilege of hearing and knowing the long awaited Savior, but I don't act like it.
Lord Jesus, I pray that I would remember how deeply I need your presence. Be my first thought in the morning and the priority of my life!