40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 16

Focus: Living in Expectation of the Kingdom of God
By Marion Kirkpatrick, IOC

Scripture Reference:
“There was a man by the name of Joseph, a member of the Jewish High Council, a man of good heart and good character. He had not gone along with the plans and actions of the council. His hometown was the Jewish village of Arimathea. He lived in alert expectation of the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Taking him down, he wrapped him in a linen shroud and placed him in a tomb chiseled into the rock, a tomb never yet used. It was the day before Sabbath, the Sabbath just about to begin.” Luke 23: 50-54(MSG.)

Devotional:

While reading thru the Gospels in preparation for this season of Resurrection, I came across an interesting note about Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph was the man who boldly begged the body of Jesus from Pilate, prepared him for burial and placed him in his own tomb.

The Scriptures indicate that Joseph was a good and upright man, a disciple of Jesus and a respected member of the Sanhedrin who had not consented to their decision and action regarding the trial of Jesus.

What was it about this man whose actions are recorded in all four Gospels? The clue is found in Luke 23:52, “He lived in alert expectation of the kingdom of God.” Alert means that he was vigilant, attentive, conscious, sensitive and wide-awake in anticipation of the time when the Lord would ultimately reign and God’s will would be fulfilled. This expectation led him to take action in asking for and preparing the Lord’s body for burial. It was a personal thing. He wrapped it in linen, along with 75 pounds of “myrrh and aloes” and placed him in his own new tomb.

Jesus instructed his disciples to pray for the kingdom of God to come and that His will be done on earth “as it is in heaven.” In heaven there is no suffering such as we experience with people we serve in the developing nations. As we take personal action to serve on earth to alleviate the suffering, and as we pray that the Kingdom of God would come, are we living in expectation of it?
Do we really believe that time will come? Are we watching? Are we anxiously waiting? Do we envision that it will happen? That is ultimately what brings joy in our work and fulfillment in our calling. May we learn this simple truth from Joseph of Arimathea and live in “alert expectation of the Kingdom of God.”

Prayer Points:

* Pray that each one of us would experience a personal revival of “expectancy” of God’s Kingdom that is coming.

* Pray that we would seek to live and work in vigilant anticipation of God’s will being fulfilled on earth.