Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.
James 5:7-11
There is no question that exercising patience, is one of the most difficult aspects of my life as a disciple, and most others as well.
The fact is that practicing patience is not a natural human trait.
We live in an instant gratification world, a world where twitter, Facebook, google and a huge river of data rushes around us; merchandisers hawk their wares, proclaiming that we don't need to wait, we can have it all now, and pay for it later, and then some. Who can even fathom the concept of a prophetic voice foretelling what would be realized 700, 400, or 100 years from now? The USA is only 236 years old, Plymouth Rock was landed not even 400 years ago. We are a people in a young civilization that is thin on resolve, endurance, and the concept of patience. Yet these are things that the Lord desires, I dare say requires we have, lest we go running away, falling short, at the first signs of disappointment, or stormy horizons.
We are to be patient until the coming of the Lord.
We have no idea, beloved, what this timeline looks like, but we need to know that the time is short. He will come, and when He does it will happen as a thief in the night, suddenly, but until then we are to strengthen our hearts, our resolve-and practice the art of patience.
James 5:7-11
There is no question that exercising patience, is one of the most difficult aspects of my life as a disciple, and most others as well.
The fact is that practicing patience is not a natural human trait.
We live in an instant gratification world, a world where twitter, Facebook, google and a huge river of data rushes around us; merchandisers hawk their wares, proclaiming that we don't need to wait, we can have it all now, and pay for it later, and then some. Who can even fathom the concept of a prophetic voice foretelling what would be realized 700, 400, or 100 years from now? The USA is only 236 years old, Plymouth Rock was landed not even 400 years ago. We are a people in a young civilization that is thin on resolve, endurance, and the concept of patience. Yet these are things that the Lord desires, I dare say requires we have, lest we go running away, falling short, at the first signs of disappointment, or stormy horizons.
We are to be patient until the coming of the Lord.
We have no idea, beloved, what this timeline looks like, but we need to know that the time is short. He will come, and when He does it will happen as a thief in the night, suddenly, but until then we are to strengthen our hearts, our resolve-and practice the art of patience.
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