EAGLE OBSERVER WEEKLY DEVOTION

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:7-8 (read 7-11)

In this world, Christians suffer. Those who place their faith and confidence in the shed blood of Jesus and, as a fruit of that faith, hold fast to the teaching of God’s Word suffer hatred and persecution in this world (cf. 2 Tim. 3:12; Matt. 5:10-12). And not only that, they struggle against temptations arising from the devil, the world and their own sinful flesh (cf. Rom. 7:14-25; 1 Peter 5:8-10).

Because of this, as we await the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we may lose heart and become impatient. We could even grumble and complain as did some of the Children of Israel in the wilderness (cf. 1 Cor. 10:1ff.).

James, writing by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, tells us to be patient unto the coming of the Lord. Jesus will come, as He said, and take us and all who believe to be with Him in the mansions of His Father’s house (John 14:1ff.). But like the farmer who plants his seed and waits for the harvest, waiting patiently for God to send the early and latter rains to make the seed sprout and grow and then produce fruit, so we are urged to wait patiently for the coming of our Lord Jesus and the fulfillment of all His promises.

As the Bible says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and theelements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:9-10; cf. 2 Thess. 1:7-10).

Even if we are suffering persecution and hardship, the Word of God urges us to be patient - until the last of God’s children comes to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. This sin-cursed world goes on because God is merciful and desires that all repent and turn to Him for forgiveness and life in His Son, Jesus Christ. He desires that all acknowledge their sinfulness and place their trust in the shed blood of Jesus, their crucified and risen Savior.

While we await His coming and our gathering together unto Him, we are urged to establish ourselves in the truth by continuing in God’s Word (cf. 2 Tim. 3:12-17). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).

Dearest Lord Jesus, keep us steadfast in Your Word and preserve us in the true and saving faith that we may patiently await that Day when You shall return in glory to judge this world and take us to dwell with You forever in the mansions of heaven. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible.]

Community News, Pages 7 on 12/15/2010