Patience... further...

"You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near."

James 5:8

As we continue to examine patience (and oddly I am feeling like rushing through it in my flesh, but in my spirit I know I need to take heed of the whole process), we have to realize that words like the ones above from James are speaking to us, even today.

And even though we cannot know when the Lord will return, I would not want to be one of those left standing who wasn't ready... so I have to remain vigilant, and be prepared for it to happen at any given moment.  But I must also remember to remain patient, and not overly anxious for the Lord's return, as that creates another problem altogether. 

If one cannot control the anticipation, they may begin to grow overly excitable about things in the world, and they may begin to place deadlines on things and tell people that the end is near... like people have been saying since Jesus' time.  And none of them have been correct.  Not one.  Out of countelss trillions who have been born and have died before us, including those today who claim the world's end is right around the corner, not one has been right so far: betting odds are bad on those folks, I think.  So why would anyone continue trying to make God work on a human schedule?  Patience.

Take time today (because it's Sunday) to think about one aspect of your worship that could use more patience.  Do you rush through prayer?  Do you long for the chorus of a song, ignoring the words in the verse?  Do you wish for only the contemporary songs and ignore the hymns?  Do you pray for the sermon to get to the end point so you can get a donut or some more coffee?  Be patient within your own worship today, and honor the Lord through this!

God bless you all!!!