DAYS OF PRAISE -BE PATIENT

Be Patient

September 26, 2010

"Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts:

for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."

(James 5:8)

Many of us have been looking for the return of the Lord Jesus

for a long time. This writer has kept a simple little plaque on

his office wall for over 50 years. It reads: "Perhaps today,"

and serves as a daily reminder that today might indeed be

the day when He comes again. We do long for His appearing,

and as things seem to grow worse in the world year by year,

it is easy to become impatient--or perhaps even despondent-

-when He doesn't come.

Yet day by day "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh!" as our

text teaches. "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye

have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For

yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will

not tarry" (Hebrews 10:36-37).

Even the first-century Christians had to learn patience as they

also anxiously were awaiting Christ's return to deliver them out

of their tribulations--tribulations which were so great they

seemed to fit "end-time prophecies."

"Occupy till I come" (Luke 19:13) is His admonition to all who

await His second coming. "Blessed is that servant, whom his

lord when he cometh shall find so doing" (Luke 12:43). But

rather than hoping the Lord will come quickly to free us from

our tribulations, we should "count it all joy when fall into divers

temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of faith worketh

patience" (James 1:2-3). We need patience, and "tribulation

worketh patience" (Romans 5:3). For God will render "to them

who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and

honor and immortality, eternal life" (Romans 2:7). We should

"be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and

patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:12). "Be patient

therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord" (James 5:7). HMM

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