July 23 Patience Perfected James 1:3
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:3)
Most of my life, I have experienced, what my mother called, “Irritating Impatience!” Patience is not an easy thing to master, and I know that I am not alone in this challenge! Life is fraught with delays, detours, unexpected challenges, and if you are like me, this can cause a bit of frustration, at least for that moment! How about the couple that stopped going to a particular church because the preacher didn’t finish on time, or the lady that, from the back of the line, made sure that everyone knew that she was special and that this delay was most inconvenient for her! Mama used to say these immortal words to me, daily; “Glen, Be Patient!” She would bring up the example of the farmer that prepares the soil, plants the crops, and “waits” for the harvest! As I have matured, in faith and in years, I have come to understand that “Patience” is something more that “Teeth-Grinding” endurance! Just as the farmer patiently watches the empty ground, he knows that there will be results! In our spiritual lives, God knows what the final product will be from what is happening to us! He expects us to connect our patience to our faith! As my Faith has increased, my patience has increased (and I have had a long way to go), and that has been a blessing to be praised! Ask our God for the gift of “Patience,” and then employ it in all that you do! Stay Strong, Stay Focused … THE BEST IS YET TO BE!