Anticipating God
My whole being thirsts for God, for the living God.
When will I come and see God’s face? ~ Psalm 42:2 (CEB)
The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free. And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping. ~ Romans 8:23-24 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
We have experienced a little bit of God already, but we long for the time when there is no need to hope because we will be seeing God face-to-face.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for giving us a preview of all the good things ahead with you. When I am thinking clearly I live in anticipation of being with you. But I do not always think clearly. I am easily distracted by the idols of this era. The thoughts of power and pleasure drive me along in a way that I don't even notice you. I want this to change. Please fill me with anticipation and save me from temptation. I am going to live now in anticipation of then. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
