Remember and Wait

​Sitting at a table in a restaurant that overlooked the Maine coast, we watched as a flock of gulls flew onto the lawn to wait for someone to throw them some food.  After a few minutes, many of the gulls left because nothing was immediately forthcoming.  However, the few who remained were rewarded for their persistence.  In fact, a restaurant employee threw out an entire piece of bread that was caught by one of the gulls who was in the right place at the right time.  We watched in amazement as he consumed the entire piece.
 
The gull did two things right.  He remembered where he had been fed before, and he waited patiently for what was to come.  The children of Israel were taught the importance of remembering what God had done.  "But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today."  (Deuteronomy 8:18) "Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced." (Psalm 105:5) It is in the remembering that we will go to the right place to connect with the Lord and receive His abundant blessings for us.
 
Scripture is filled with instructions to wait upon the Lord.  The Psalmist tells us his own experience with waiting.  "I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry." (Psalm 40:1) I love what Isaiah tells us about the Lord's desire to bless us.  "Yet, the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are those who wait for Him! (Isaiah 30:18)
 
When Jesus walked the earth He was followed by crowds.  They heard about how He healed those that He touched.  In Matthew 14:13-21, we read about a crowd of 5,000 who followed Him.  Jesus took five loaves of bread and two fish, gave thanks, and then fed that entire crown.  In addition, there were 12 baskets full of bread left over.  Later, a crowd of 4,000 followed Jesus as He healed their lame, blind, crippled and mute.  For three days they went without food to be with Jesus.  This time He took seven loaves and a few small fish, gave thanks, feed them all, and had left overs. (Matthew 15:30-38) Shortly thereafter, when Jesus was with His disciples, He reminded them of these times.  "...Don't you remember the five loaves for the 5,000, and how many basketfuls you gathered?" (Matthew 16:9)
 
Those who remembered how Jesus healed and fed the people positioned themselves to receive a blessing.  As they waited they received immeasurably more than they could have imagined. (Ephesians 3:20) The Lord is looking for a people of faith so that He can be gracious to them and bless them. Remember the faithfulness of the Lord and wait for Him.  Let your hunger for the things of God grow.  We must be willing to wait on Him to be satisfied.  He knows what we need and is ready to give it to us.