The road to happiness is
always under construction sign on Road Grader.
I learned a lesson on
patience one day while standing in the grocery store line.
I had a few items to purchase so I decided I would let the man behind
me to go before me. But he
refused. He said that he learned a long time ago if a man is in a
hurry he should have started sooner. So
it is in our lives. We should
learn to hurry up and wait. Be
prepared for the eventual but start ASAP.
Start as soon as possible to trust and wait on the Lord to produce his
work in our lives.
Our 4-year-old daughter's
surgery was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. We were becoming anxious as time passed
and no one came to get her. Finally at 12:30, the surgeon arrived at her room.
Knowing my husband is a minister, the doctor asked us if many people were
praying for this surgery.
Edgy from the delay, I said,
"They were praying for you an hour ago."
With a smile, he shot back,
"Thanks. That surgery went very well."
-- Marcia Hornor, Salt Lake City, Utah. "Lite Fare,"
Christian Reader.
Scripture
Text:
Gal. 5:16 So I say,
live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the
sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is
contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that
you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity
and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of
rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness,
orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like
this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who
belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and
desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
makrothumia
{mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah} From the
Greek Lexicon.
AV - longsuffering, patience;
1) Patience, endurance,
constancy, steadfastness, perseverance
2) Patience, forbearance,
longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs:
Makrothumia is the
self-restraint which does not hastily
retaliate a wrong. This one
is opposed to wrath and revenge.
Define Patience:
1.
Ability to bear trials without whining and complaining.
(Whining is a lot of air forced through a small hole.)
2.
Waiting without worrying. Believing
in the Lord and trusting Him to stay.
3.
Patience is a spiritual fruit. Possess it if you can, found seldom in a woman and never in a
man.
A.
How long should we be patient?
James 5:11 until Christ
comes again wait watch, pray..
In the midst of a storm, a
little bird was clinging to the limb of a tree, seemingly calm and unafraid.
As the wind tore at the limbs of the tree, the bird continued to look the
storm in the face, as if to say, "Shake me off; I still have wings."
Because of Christ's resurrection,
each Christian can look the experience of life and death in the face and
confidently say, "Shake me off; I still have wings. I'll live
anyway."
n
Wayne A. Lamb in 100 Meditations on Hope.
Christianity Today, Vol. 40, no. 4.
James
5:7 (NIV) Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the
farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for
the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the
Lord's coming is near.
9
Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge
is standing at the door! 10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of
suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you
know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's
perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is
full of compassion and mercy.
B.
Why should we be patient?
James 5:12-11 and v. 7.
1.
Remember God’s patience with us.
His first concern is our growth and fruit-bearing
Gardener is patiently waiting. He
works on us. God is our
gardener.
2.
Remember God is in control. If
you believe it then will you act like it?
3.
Remember the Prophets and disciples in v. 10
the patient and endurance of those gone before .
Moses lead the people for 40 years
to promised land.
4.
Remember the Patience of Job. V.
11 Don’t forget how God brings
things to an end.
How Can we be patient: V. 8-9.
a.
Trust God he is in control (not
mother nature)
b.
Set your minds and establish your hearts.
c.
Jesus is coming again. Don’t
forget.
d.
Be patient with each another, and forbear one another.
Grudge not.
e.
God is growing His garden.
f.
Sink your roots deep into the Lord. (Remember not to neglect the unseen.)
g.
Let God produce patience in you. He is working on us and with us.
A man once bought a home with a tree in the backyard.
It was winter, and nothing marked this tree as different from any other tree.
When spring came, the tree grew leaves and tiny pink buds. "How
wonderful," thought the man. "A flower tree! I will enjoy its beauty
all summer." But before he had time to enjoy the flowers, the wind began
to blow and soon all the petals were strewn in the yard. "What a
mess," he thought "This tree isn't any use after all."
The
summer passed, and one day the man noticed the tree was full of green fruit
the size of large nuts. He picked a large one and took a bite, "Bleagh!"
he cried and threw it to the ground. "What a horrible taste! This tree is
worthless. Its flowers are so fragile the wind blows them away, and its fruit
is terrible and bitter. When winter comes, I'm cutting it down." But the
tree took no notice of the man and continued to draw water from the ground and
warmth from the sun and in late fall produced crisp red apples.
Some
of us see Christians with their early blossoms of happiness and think they
should be that way forever. Or we see bitterness in their lives, and we're
sure they will never bear the better fruit of joy. Could it be that we forget
some of the best fruit ripens late? -- Misty Mowrey, Roseville, Minnesota.
Leadership, Vol. 6, no. 2.