Patience to Purpose

Over the last several days, I shared some personal experiences about patience. I didn't share them to evoke sympathy or even to take you anyplace negative in your own experience. I shared them to let you know that I know we live in a "real world." Sometimes, I think, we want life in this life to be the perfect picture that God had in mind when He created the Garden of Eden and placed the first people in it. I know I like that picture. That's why I regularly use the phrase, "A Garden Walk."

Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. (Genesis 2:25 NIV)

As I teach these Biblical truths, though, I also recognize that even the Garden was affected by sin. The serpent tempted Adam and Eve. They chose to eat the forbidden fruit. They were kicked out of the Garden. Now, we live in a world that is groaning to be restored when Jesus returns. That is the world we live in today. Patience, then, is an important fruit of God's Spirit as we wait for the day that Jesus returns. And, as we said yesterday, it is good to have patience because it means salvation for someone. We are waiting because God is waiting for someone else to come home to Him.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9 NIV)

Patience for me, however, has changed over the years. As I've learned more about this picture, I've also learned much more about my part of the picture. I've learned that I am called to come home to the Father through the Son. I've learned that when I do, I also receive the Holy Spirit. I've learned that with the Holy Spirit, God gives me a gift or gifts that are specifically designed to be used in His plan. I've learned that God wants me to use my gift(s) to glorify God and to built up His Body: The Church. I've also learned that when I do, I will be a part of His Team who is being sent out to empower one more to walk together with God.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:16 NIV)

What I've learned, then, is that I do not feel the need for patience nearly as much as I used to. The same kinds of circumstances today do not get in the way of what I want. Instead, I see them differently. When I wake up, I no longer feel like I need to patiently wait for God's return. Instead, I look forward to participating in God's plan. I eagerly look forward to the day, wondering what God is going to do next and what I get to do as a part of that plan. Patience, for me, has shifted to a sense of purpose. As long as God gave me today, He has something for me to do.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:1-2 NIV)

How about you? Are you waiting for God to return? Are you being patient as you wait? Has your patience changed to a sense of purpose? Are you looking forward to God working through you today?

Patience for One More

I know it probably sounded like I was complaining yesterday, but that was not my intent. I was simply trying to communicate that I face long days, barriers, and roadblocks just like everyone else. Sometimes I need to patiently wait for things like computer systems to work. (After all, this was a computer system day and I am just getting to write this post at 1:50 a.m. before going to bed. That's alright, though. I didn't really start my day until 9 a.m. this morning, so it's a short day.) My point is that there are days or times I am tempted to say, "Lord Jesus, please return now," because I'm ready for the hard work to be done.

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. (James 5:7-8 NIV)

Then I remember what my daughter once told me. She said, "Dad, I think I'm different from everyone else. I don't pray like they do." "What do you mean," I asked. "I don't want Jesus to return right way," she said. Then she started naming off family, friends, and other church attenders that she knew did not walk together with God. "I want Jesus to wait until they get baptized, too." I just smiled. "You keep on praying however you want," I told her.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. (2 Peter 3:8-15 NIV)

So, how about you? Do you want Jesus to return right now or do you want Him to wait for someone you know? Are you willing to patiently wait for one more?

Patience for Hope

I'm sorry that this is going out later in the morning. I know that for some of you, this is asking for patience. I found myself unexpectedly ministering to people until midnight or so last night. I didn't get to bed until 2:30 and I wasn't in the right mindset to write this post yet for today. So, I went to sleep and, since I didn't have an early morning meeting, I overslept a little. Now I am here.

This is one of those mornings where I have to force myself to read Scripture, pray, and write a blog post (daily devo). I don't know if you have mornings like this or not, but every day does not necessarily come easily for me. Some days I have to fight through the struggles. Sometimes they are my own struggles. Sometimes they are wrestling with the enemy in intercessory prayer and counselling on behalf of others. Life, and ministry, can be hard work.

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:16-25 NIV)

Last evening, for example, I was wrestling with a computer. (I know, big surprise, right?) We have been working on many technological upgrades that will allow us to record our services at HD quality and make them available on the internet. One of our "small group" people emailed me yesterday to let me know that she would not be able to make it to group and asked if we were going to record it that night. I told her I though we could because I had been working on that machine and had everything working perfectly this past Sunday afternoon. Last night, though, was a different story. I couldn't even get the machine to boot up. Whether it is infected with viruses, has a corrupt hard drive, or simply has problems with its new operating system, the result was the same. I was working right up to the moment we started Bible study and could not get the recording machine to work.

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God "will repay each person according to what they have done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. (Romans 2:1-8 NIV)

I don't know if you know this or not, but I pretty much work for God's purposes in my life, my marriage, my family, and to build up His Body (The Church) all the time. My "work day" (focused on The Church) ranges from 12 to 16 hours a day, six days a week. Sometimes I am blessed by seeing the people around me who are just as committed to God and God's Kingdom as I am. Sometimes I am not. In either situation, there are times when the hard work and long days lead me think, "Lord Jesus, come quickly." I'm ready for the hard work to be done and the new heaven and new earth to begin. I wake up, though, and greet each new day with God and I remember that as long as God has given me today, He has work for me to do.

How about you? Are you ever ready for Jesus to return so the work can stop? Do you ever get distracted or even overwhelmed by the work, the battle, or the struggle in this life? Do you have to exercise patience as you wait for the Hope that we have?

Patience for Repayment

Many times, patience gets kind of a bad rep. People will say things like, "Don't pray for patience. God will just give you things to be patient about!" I'm not sure how I feel about that theologically. Scripture tells us that God is the giver of all good gifts (James 1:17). Not only that, we are assured that God is cannot be tempted and does not tempt anyone (James 1:13). Why would God give you things to make you suffer when you are asking for God's help? It really doesn't fit? No, when you ask for help, God provides help (Matthew 7:11, Luke 11:13).

Sometimes we struggle because we apply the wrong tool for the job, though. Sometimes we patiently wait for repayment when we are not going to get paid back - at least not in this life. Let me explain.

Whenever someone sins against us, they go into our debt. Let's say someone steals your Bible. What happens is that the thief sins. (Stealing is on the top ten list.) When he sins, he goes into your debt. He owes you your Bible back. The only way to relieve the pain of the burden, it seems, is to get your Bible back. Otherwise, we reason, I just have to be patient.

Someone sinning against you, however, is not an opportunity to be patient. That's like trying to use a fork lift when you were supposed to use the dumpster. A fork lift helps you carry a heavier burden. So, we pile one offense after another on the pallet and carry it around with our fork lift. When someone sins against you, however, God offers to take the burden from you. God's answer to the burden of sin is that you forgive the sinner. You stop expecting repayment for the debt. You had the I.O.U. over to Jesus. You let God take care of it - even if it will take until the next life before you see repayment. Then the burden is lifted and you stop feeling pain over that offense. As long as you hold on to the I.O.U., however, it will hurt. That's because you are fighting God.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. "At this the servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.' "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart." (Matthew 18:21-35 NIV)

How about you? Have you ever used the wrong tool for the job? Have you ever tried to be patient when you should have tried forgiveness? Are you willing to trust God to get repayment for those debts against you?

Patience

I like a good cup of coffee. Now, I know that my definition of "good" does not necessarily match what others may consider "good" here. I like coffee with flavors. I like creamers with flavors. I like taking a sip of a hot cup of coffee and having it burst in my mouth with, well, flavors.

The other day my coffee maker was telling me it was tired. The little light came on that said it needed a good cleaning. So, I cleaned it. Not only do I like a good cup of coffee, but I'm cheap, too. So I bought a gallon jug of vinegar rather than the specialized cleaning solution they have for the coffee maker. I put the vinegar in the water reservoir, ran the coffee maker a few times so the vinegar was throughout the system, and let it sit for the day.

I had forgotten that I had done that so the vinegar sat in there all night, too. The next morning I went to make my good cup of coffee and I realized that I smelled, well, vinegar. Thankfully, I smelled it before I made my coffee for the morning. So, I put water in the tank, pushed the button, and waited.

The coffee maker made its series of hums, buzzes, and clicking sounds. (By the way, my coffee maker makes hums, buzzes, and clicking sounds.) Finally it poured forth its first cup of vinegar. Once this was complete, I did it again. Then I did it again, again, and again. I figured five times was enough to get the vinegar out of the system, since the water reservoir was now empty. So, I made my regular cup of coffee.

It's aroma was pleasing, especially after the smell of hot vinegar. I mixed in my specialty creamers (which I also buy cheap and in bulk), stirred, and raised the fresh cup of brew to my mouth. Sip. Yuck. Don't get me wrong. Like I said, I like many flavors in my coffee.  All the components of a really good cup of coffee were there. There was just still a little too much vinegar in it for my taste.

But the fruit of the Spirit is...patience… (Galatians 5:22 NIV84)

I had to go for the day, so I left without a cup of my home brewed coffee yesterday. That's alright, though. I knew it was only a matter of time before I would have a better version of my home brew. I've since run a few more cups of water through the system. This morning...mmmm. No vinegar.

This whole process has gotten me thinking. I'm willing to patiently wait for a coffee maker to hum, buzz, and click over and over again while it produces nothing but hot vinegar water. It doesn't even give me a cup of coffee while it is going through this cleaning process. Yet I patiently feed it vinegar, then feed it water, and push the button over and over again to help it through the process - all because I enjoy coffee.

Love is patient… (1 Corinthians 13:4 NIV)

Yet when it comes to people, I am not nearly so patient at times. I'm not willing to feed them what they need to clean out the junk in their lives. I'm not willing to push the right buttons and patiently wait while they hum, buzz, and click their way through their process. When I shortcut people and their process, but patiently wait for my coffeemaker and it's process, what does that say about what I love? Hmmmm. Maybe I need to stop drinking coffee... No, that's not it. I think I just need to love people, and be patient with them, at least as much as I love the coffee. Who knows? Maybe some good will come out of us, too?

How about you? What are you patient about? Does it show what or who you love?