Circuit Thoughts

“Be there the firstest with the mostest” was the motto of General Nathan Forrest of the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Actually, I think what he said was get there with the most men before the enemy does. But the common statement made the point.

It seems we live in a “firstest with the mostest” world. The world tells us to hurry up, to make sure we get the front of the line, to be sure we have more stuff than our neighbors. We break our backs and compromise our health and families so that we can be the “firstest with the mostest”.

But what does the Bible say about that?

“But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary’ they shall walk and not faint; “(Isaish 40:13) and “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:25).

This is only a small example of what the Bible says about being “the firstest…”

My friends, we are called to wait upon the Lord, not to rush around and pursue every worldly passion and project. We are meant to follow God’s plan and not the world’s objectives. Waiting upon the Lord is our calling.

But there are two kinds of waiting.

The first is setting still, praying, and studying the Word of God (aka Bible) to discern what the Spirit has in store for us. This is a viable way to wait, but it is also an incomplete way to wait.

To this kind of waiting a second form of wait must be included. Waiting also means serving. Yes, that is what I said, serving.

I mean, when you go into a restaurant the waiters and waitresses don’t just sit around and wait for you to leave. No, they jump up and serve you.

This is the call for us. Not only are we to be waiting in prayer and study, but we are also supposed to be out in the world serving and leading.

Christianity is not about sitting around and waiting for Christ to come, it is about leading others to Christ so they can lead others to Christ so they can…, well you get the picture. Waiting means being Disciples.

John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Movement laid down 3 simple rules in waiting upon the Lord.

1: Do no Harm, 2: Do Good, 3: Attend to the ordinances of God. Number 3 means; Go to church, Study and read your Bible, Pray, Worship, and participate in the Sacraments (the Lord’s Supper) along with a few other things. (if you want to know more, ask your friendly neighborhood Methodist pastor.)

We are not to be the “firstest with the mostest”, we are called to wait upon the Lord and be the light of the world.

It’s not about being first and having the most stuff. It’s about following Christ and bringing others to Him.

Ultimately it is about Christ.

Just a thought.

Shalom my friends. See you in church.