Do You Have Patient Endurance?
Good Morning Friends,
When we receive the compassion and mercy of the Lord in our life it acts as a foundation for our faith to grow and with our faith, patience that the Lord will complete the work He has started in us. This perspective, this foundation, changes everything. It impacts us and others when we show compassion and mercy as well. Unfortunately when we gather together as a group of sinners to worship and work it is not surprising that we are not always models of good behavior, but often examples of misbehavior. It is within such a context that James directs his comments in today’s scripture. He calls on us to have patience, to follow the example of farmers who wait unhurriedly for the crop. We are called to deal with this lack of wisdom and our need to develop the skills of living in community, to grow in love. The judge is standing at the doors of our hearts, the doors of the Kingdom stand before us, so do not stop before the goal is reached. If you want to avoid His judgment on the journey do not be a stumbling block for others… stop grumbling and focus on the task in hand. To win the race we need to grow strong. Do You Have Patient Endurance?
Scripture: Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
James 5:7-11 (NRSV)
Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable garland, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NRSV)
Message: Sports competition, farming and Spiritual growth can have some amazing connections. We have already touched on farming in the introduction. Now let us turn our attention to sports. Two thousand years ago the roots of what we today call the Olympics were known as the isthmian games. Like our modern Olympics they were held every two years. Competition was fierce. The winners were exempt from paying taxes. They had a statue erected in their honor. They also received a free tuition at a university and were exempt from serving in the military. Today’s passage to the Church at Corinth was written with this backdrop. Paul compares these games to our role as Christians in competing to win souls for Christ. He makes clear the need for self-discipline and the reality that we must be willing to run to win not just participate. Then Paul compares the prize awarded to the winner at the end of the games to the prize we receive as Christians. Instead of a wild celery wreath given to the winners, Christians receive something that lasts… a gold crown that honors faithful, patient spiritual endurance. Now this is important because patience is developed by living a life of faith… by developing a calm endurance that comes with the knowledge that God is in charge. James tells us the truth about this attitude but Jesus demonstrated it. Remember how patient Jesus was… think about the prophets and Job and let them inspire you too… Let them compel you to be patient with others. Pursue patience friends in anticipation of a great harvest. Do not judge the work of the Lord until it is completed. Victory requires persistence. Victory requires patience. Let the fruit ripen. Know that on our spiritual journey we need to exhibit the characteristics of a winner. Like sports, we have the training, the spectators, the rules and the rewards… the challenge to run the good race. Like the farmer we have to plant and water, fertilize and sometimes prune before the harvest. But here the harvest and the winning is not so much an event but a habit of demonstrating the greatest desire, discipline, commitment and focus to a greater purpose. The one with the great character wins. The one with great character produces good fruit. Friends, you can claim the crown and enjoy the harvest but you must have patient endurance.
Pray we have endurance of the heart. Pray we realize that endurance not speed is the key to the race in life. Pray that by endurance we are matured spiritually.
Pray that the light of Jesus in our lives be brighter than an Olympic torch. Pray that on the marathon of life we learn to discipline our minds. Pray we discipline our bodies and character. Pray we discipline our speech. Pray we discipline our priorities. Pray we never, never, never give up. Pray that we encourage others. Pray that when it comes to being Christians we are Super winners…evoked, engaged and empowered to go the distance. Pray we work the soil until the full harvest comes in. Pray we team up and rejoice in hope of winning together. Pray we cultivate our hearts for a spiritual harvest.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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