Skip to main content

The Perfect Work of Patience

Bethany's Church sign this week reads Don't Be Too Busy to Miss God's Blessings. If I could describe this generation in one word, it would have to be busy. So often I find myself getting strapped down to the rigorous routine of life, finding that at the end of the day all I have to show for it is a worrisome mind and a stress filled heart. Always fully in motion, but never truly moving forward. The rat race spills over into my spiritual walk and all that was wholesome, joyful, and uplifting becomes monotonous rhetoric, haphazard reading, and clumsy living.

Numerous times I have had to fall on my face from "running the race" to realize that the race will never be finished through busy running, but through blessed rest. It's not just by pacing, but by patience. This may seem like a paradox, and indeed it is, yet Christianity is about the impossible becoming possible. The gospel is powerful and paradoxical. Just as we in reverence begin to dwell on the truth that the God of the universe somehow, through the Holy Spirit, reigns in ours hearts. That for us to experience eternity, we must have the faith of a child. That blessing comes by giving and living in Christ comes by dying to self.

James 1:2-4 states, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." The word perfect implies growth and maturity, while work means to toil and labor. Notice that Christian patience is coupled and complemented with growth and labor. Patience is the water and God's love is the sun in the garden of Christian maturity. When we suffer for Christ, we may experience great pains, but more than this, we are emboldened into a patient hope, renewed in trust, and edified in His love.

In the daily duties we face, there is one grand, divine call we are to heed. Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth (Psalms 46:10)." The moment I stop and meditate on God, His goodness, and His mercy, I find my patience turns to strength and joy. Patience  procures trust, amplifies hope, and promotes growth. Wait for God's Will, meditate in His Word, Quit running around in circles in this world. Stop, rest in Christ's love and forgiveness, cast your cares at His feet, and then in your patience you will find satisfying strength for the race. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Madam Darkshade continued

My most despicable Marah, The abyss of my heart has grown beyond measure! Everything your sister has told me about your efforts - how undeniably successful they are - is just another reminder as to why I always saw myself in you. So, that foolish grungy has finally declared himself as bishop. Naturally, during their meeting, there was tremendous conflict and a choosing of sides. Classic. It reminds me of the struggle at Corinth, when so many fought over who was on Paul's side and who was on Apollos' side. Of course, you are much too young to know what I am referring to! Now, I must remind you that there is still much work to be done. Divide and conquer. The ecclessia is split, therefore, waste no time instilling pride and hatred. I know you are enticing our self exalted puppet to start his own assembly, which is good, but before he does, through slander and lies, he must cripple those who withstood him. Make him feel betrayed. As if he were a great captain who ...

The Devil Wears a Tie (Continued)

Of all the ways the devil will tempt a person, catering to one's vanity is his favorite means to get them to fall. After all, before the inception of time, he also succumbed to pride. He believed he had an inward right to the heavenly throne, and through promulgating the potential of self exaltation to other angelic beings, he led a massive insurrection against the Almighty. There was absolutely no chance of a “successful rebellion”, but reason often dissipates when one is steeped in prideful bitterness. Simply put, the devil began to hate God, for being, God. This attitude of entitlement parades itself in every heart. We may be able to mask it for a while, but given enough hardships and displeasure, we often become the corrupted clay, vilifying the ways of God and distrusting the commands of His word (Isaiah 29:16). The apostle Paul's warning to believers at Ephesus was,  “Don't give the devil any opportunity to work  (Ephesians 4:27).” Yet, in the garden of Eden, we ...

WORLDCLASS SCRUTINIZERS

Lord willing, I will continue to post the "letters of Madam Darkshade", but for now, I am posting something I wrote a few days ago regarding criticism and scrutiny. Romans 14:1-3 , “ Welcome people who are weak in faith, but don't get into an argument over differences of opinion. Some people believe that they can eat all kinds of food. Other people with weak faith believe that they can eat only vegetables. People who eat all foods should not despise people who eat only vegetables. In the same way, the vegetarians should not criticize people who eat all foods, because God has accepted those people (GWT).” 1 Corinthians 13:7a, “Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person... (AMP)” We have lost the art of giving someone the benefit of the doubt. In today's society, perhaps even more in the church, people have become avid critics. At some point in life, we all experience both sides of the ju...