Linger

[0:00] A pastor's reflections. Linger. Genesis 19.16. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, the Lord being merciful unto him, and they brought him forth.

[0:17] Mark 16.15. And he said unto them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Luke 24.49. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you, but tarry you in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high.

[0:38] There is a time for action, and a time for sitting still. Solomon, writing in the book of Ecclesiastes, tells us in chapter 3, verse 6, that there is a time to keep, and a time to cast away.

[0:50] There are seasons of stillness, of quiet, patience, tarrying, and contemplation. And then there are also those seasons of action, seasons of movement, stirring, agitation, and uprooting.

[1:05] There are those times when we will sense the hand of God drawing us near to sit quietly in his presence and to wait for his timing and direction in our lives. Then there are those times where contrary to even our own desires, God will stir us up and disquiet our lives.

[1:21] What we see as an intrusion or an interruption is in reality simply the tugging hand of a loving Heavenly Father. In Genesis 19, Lot was experiencing the move of God in his life.

[1:36] The Word of God had been spoken into Lot's life in no uncertain terms, and God was on the move. No, it was not what Lot had expected, or to be honest, even wanted.

[1:47] At this point in his life, no one would have accused Lot of having a close walk with the Lord. For Lot, this stirring was not the result of desiring God or of asking for deliverance.

[2:00] In fact, this move of God was not even a result of Lot's own personal relationship with the Lord, but of Abraham's. Yet no matter how distant, Lot was still connected to the promise of God, and that made all the difference.

[2:16] Isaiah 49, 15, and 16. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will not I forget you.

[2:31] Behold, I have graven you upon the palms of my hands. In Christ, we too are connected to the promise of God. No, not through our connection with Abraham, but through our connection to the promised son of Abraham, Jesus.

[2:45] Like Lot, we too could find ourselves in an unlooked-for season of stirring. We too could find ourselves lingering when God is telling us, go. In those moments of indecision, it is not always important to know exactly what is happening, but instead, to know the one who makes all things happen.

[3:05] When God tugs on your life, don't draw back or dig in your heels. Go. In the same way, when God sits you down and asks you to wait, then wait.

[3:18] There are times to linger long in God's presence, and there are times to be about your father's business. Just remember that no matter how fringe you may feel in your relationship to God, you are forever connected to the son of promise, and that makes all the difference.

[3:35] Matthew 26, 46. Rise. Let us be going. Father, is the disquiet I have been feeling only your gentle hand tugging at my heart to arise and follow?

[3:49] Help me to be settled in your love no matter how unsettling the circumstances. Thank you for eternally connecting me to your son of promise. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.