Be Patient

Today's Advent Devotion is inspired by Upper Room Daily Reflections, December 10. Though I did not get much out of their reading, I thought the scripture was appropriate today. :)

In James 5:7-11 we read:

7Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

When we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate the fact that God sent his son to earth. This son who became our hope, our joy, our example. Christ died for our sin, he suffered on the crucifixion tree, he rose up for the dead! ALIVE, our Jesus, the Christ is alive! He went up to heaven where he sits. He is promised to return to us.

This passage reminds me that Christ will return. I should be patient about waiting for him. Just as I patiently wait for my garden to grow in the summer. Just as I patiently wait for my mice babies to get big enough to sell. Just as I patiently wait for my boy child to mature just a bit more. This patience I need as I await the Lord's return. This patience that remains the same regardless of what is going on around me. It is a constant thing, it is steadfast, it doesn't complain that it is taking too long, it just waits. That's the patience that I need, that is the patience that I must cultivate.

So let me then be patient in this thing also! :)