CAN YOU BE A LITTLE MORE PATIENT?
TEXT:
"For when God made promise to Abraham, ... And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. " (Hebrews chapter 6 verses 13 to 15, King James Version)
Patience is a Christian virtue that is mostly needed in times of trials and waiting, when the Christian would have done his part, expecting God to make good His promises.
In our Scripture reading for today, we learn that Abraham "patiently endured" before "he obtained the promise". The question is what did he patiently endure?
In our walk with God, there is always an interval, and sometimes a long interval, between the promise and its performance. This is what is called the waiting period. For Abraham, it was for twenty five years (see Genesis 12 verse 4 and Genesis 21 verse 5). During his waiting period, Abraham endured all manner of trials, temptations and opposition from God, satan and fellow men, respectively. In all of these, the Bible says that he "patiently endured". Abraham's response during the waiting period was highly commendable. His conduct bespoke of full faith in God's ability to do as He'd promised. The Holy Bible in Romans 4 verses 20 to 22 records of Abraham as follows:
"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness."
That interval between the promise and its eventual fulfillment is a trying time to believers, whether they have the patience to endure to the end or not. This is where many falter and miss the mark. Here, we have faithful Abraham to learn from. It was equally so with Christ "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12 verse 2). The great lesson for us here is that we need to learn to bow to God's divine Sovereignty and to submit to His Infinite Wisdom in handling the things that concern us.
Like Abraham, those who patiently endure shall without fail obtain the promise. The Bible says,
"Look unto Abraham your father," (Isaiah 51 verse 2). Again, the things that were written of Abraham were "written for our learning". (Romans 15 verse 4). The grand design in all of these things is to encourage those to whom God has made promises to wait with patience till the time for performance comes.
What are you believing in the Lord for? Can you, like Abraham, wait calmly for Him to perform it? You'll not regret that you waited, in Jesus name.
PRAYER:
Father, like Abraham was long tried, but was richly rewarded, I receive grace to wait with patience and be richly rewarded, in Jesus name.