Trying Patience

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." (Hebrews 10:35-36) Admittedly, the writer of Hebrews prefaces this passage with talk of Heaven and the reward that, there, awaits. He continues in verse 37 with a reminder that Jesus' imminent return is upon us. So this being said, I am literally taking this passage out of context to make a point about patience in our day to day lives.

"For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry."

Touch and go

"Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20:17)

You see, there were still things that needed to be done, even though Jesus in the previous chapter declared "it is finished" (19:30). I find that there are times when God sets things in motion that will play out as planned and it is then our job as such to maintain focus on God out of love and trust while the things He did blossom out into our realm. The very moment that Jesus died, everything that God had planned was brought to pass. The devil lost all his power. Jesus completed His mission statement but it wasn't until three days later, after those closest to Him had thought it was all over and all for nought, that the light began to dawn. Funny thing, Mary was ready. She was waiting and while she was not allowed to physically touch Jesus, she got to see Him and speak with Him. Effectively becoming the very first-ever minister of the new covenant. That's quite the high honor.

In keeping with the hurried pace of things, I'd like to point out real quick that another name for the flower impatiens is "touch-me-not". It has a very delicate seed pod that will explode, or dehisce, with a touch. Very cool.

Tried and true

It's really a great place to be. With reference to the top passage, if you know that God wants you to do something and, after maybe some procrastination and perhaps disobedience in delaying. After working through the slight and petty fears that would in a simple way seek to hinder the act of obedience that God is calling you out for, you actually complete a mission that God has scripted for you (Wow. Congratulations!), what next? Again, it's an amazing place to be. You've wound down your life and God is walking you, hand in His, through some new and uncharted territory and you "buy the field" (see yesterday's post) or make that call, or speak that word, and you know it was God having you do it. What will you do if the outcome is either different than you expected or takes longer than you thought it would? Would you wait and trust? With so, so many Christians the world over wondering what to do for God, I find that not much is spoken of regarding the calm after the storm. It takes faith to both obey God in the initial act and also to wait out the results. The same faith, applied two different ways.

"Blessed is the man whom Thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of Thy law; That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked." (Psalm 94:12-13)

See, there are things going on we're not aware of and, dare I say it, cannot handle should we desire the knowledge. It takes what time it takes to work out the fine details of the will of God for our lives. Keep pressing in to the Father and know that He has your best interests at heart. The outworking of God's will includes both blessing for His people and also judgment for anything that prevented what He wanted done in the first place. Will you wait to see what it is God wanted to do?

"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold thou fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." (Revelation 3:10-11)

 

Having given it all away...

Praying Hard