March 23 - Perseverance

James 5:7-8

7 Be patient, then brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.

In this passage, we find instructions on being patient until the return of the Lord. I also believe we should apply this instruction of patience to our relationship with Christ and within our lives. When we present requests and concerns to God in prayer, we are typically very impatient. I want instant answers and some signs immediately, but that's not how it works. The Lord is in complete control of our every second. If he wants my life to end, he has the ultimate power. That is why every breath is a blessing. We begin to lose appreciation for each and every blessing, down to our breath.

We find patience as a topic of instruction elsewhere in the Word. In 1 Corinthians 13, we find that love is patient. If we love Christ, we will be patient in our suffering, our requests, our prayers, and our needs. Within that love, we should fully trust that God will handle our prayers in his time.

I can't help but picture a 12 year old wanting to drive the family car. Most parents will insist that their child waits until they reach the legal age of 15 to drive under their supervision. Yes, there are some irresponsible parents who allow their children to drive without legal clearance and without supervision. Thankfully, as Christians, we have a responsible Father who insists that we are patient in living out our lives in his time, not ours. God's love is protective for his children. I am often blind to the greatness of his love.

I am going to take this one step further. In James (1:3), James explains that through testing of our faith in suffering or in waiting, perseverance is developed. We become stronger, spiritually, when we exercise patience. We also become stronger when we abide in God's word and follow the instructions therein. How can I ignore the Word of God and expect Christ to be glorified through my life...

James 1:12

12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.