Tag: steadfastness
Patience with people!
Scripture reading for April 5th: James 5, Psalm 68, Proverbs 6
James 5:7-11 “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”
James, a pastor, understood well the need for patience. His instructions to the beloved brothers was to cultivate a continual awareness of the coming of our Lord. Our Lord is the Judge of all men and believers must stand before the Judgment seat of Christ to receive reward or loss for deeds done in the body. A lack of patience with people is manifested in grumbling, complaining and judging others. To encourage patience, James pointed believers to the prophets who spoke in the Name of the Lord. Job, in particular, was a man of great suffering and trials, yet he patiently waited on the Lord. The Lord restored him double at the end! God is truly merciful and compassionate and worth waiting for!
Psalm 68:3-4 “But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy! Sing to God, sing praises to His Name; lift up a song to Him Who rides through the deserts; His Name is the Lord; exult before Him.”
Prayer: Father God, I rejoice in You today and in Your wise Words of encouragement through the prophets and apostles written down for us. Your Words are a Light and when I am reproved by them, it leads me to a fuller life and the experience of peace. Help me to be patient with others each day, recognizing Your great patience for me and Your endless mercy for Your suffering people.
Proverbs 6:23 “For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life.”
Steadfast and patient till Jesus comes!
Scripture reading for October 11th: Jeremiah 37, 21, 34, Psalm 79, James 5
James 5: 7-11 “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”
James concludes his short letter with a call for patience and steadfastness while the believers waited for the coming of the Lord and Judge! He pointed to farmers for an example as they sowed their seed in faith, they must wait for the early and late rains to bring the crop to maturity before the fruit of the earth can be harvested. In the same way, believers must guard their hearts and be steadfast through the trials of life and God working in the hearts of people to soften them and bring forth precious fruit of repentance and faith. The prophets also stood as examples. James sited Job as an example of patience in suffering and how God restored him double. Jeremiah also remained steadfast in spite of persecution, death threats and imprisonment faithfully delivering God’s Word to His people in spite of resistance.
Psalm 79: 4-5, 11 ” We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us. How long, O Lord? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?” . . . “But we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will give thanks to You forever; from generation to generation will will recount Your praise.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for these words of encouragement to remain steadfast in the face of trials or suffering. We are thankful for the examples You gave us in the prophets of old and apostles of Jesus and in Jesus Himself. We look forward to the coming of our Lord and the great reward of eternal life in His presence forever and ever!
Jeremiah 37:16-17 “When Jeremiah had come to the dungeon cells and remained there many days, King Zedekiah sent for him and received him. The king questioned him secretly in his house and said, “Is there any Word from the Lord?” Jeremiah said, “There is.” Then he said, “You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.””
God is Faithful!
Scripture reading for June 24th: 1st Kings 5, 2nd Chronicles 2, 2nd Thessalonians 3
Key Scriptures: 2nd Thessalonians 3:1-5 “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.”
Paul asked the believers at Thessalonica to pray for him and his ministry team. He asked that the Word of God would be speedily advanced and honored by those who heard it. He also asked to be delivered from wicked and evil men who had no faith and refused to accept God’s Word. Paul assured them that God was faithful! He would answer prayers! He would establish them and guard them from the evil one! He would direct their hearts in loving God and being patient and firm in Christ Jesus! He would build His Church and hell’s gates would not prevail. To God be all glory!
2nd Chronicles 2:5 “The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.”
Faith confession and prayer: Thank You Lord for all Your precious promises! May Your Church be built through Your faithfulness and my obedience. Protect me and Your Church from the evil one and help me to love and obey.
1st Kings 5:4-5 “But now the Lord has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary or misfortune. And so I intend to build a house for the Lord my God, as the Lord said to David my father, . .”