Bedford Bulletin
Columbus Street church of Christ
512 Columbus Street Bedford, Ohio 44146
———- Building Phone: 440-232-2231 ———-
Website: www.bedfordcoc.com
E-Mail: dave.evangelistcoc@gmail.com
October 4, 2020
Patience Please? Now! (Part 2)
In the last article I made the observation that you can, “Go anywhere, converse with anyone, or group, and you’ll discover that patience is universally respected and regarded yet scarcely practice. It has been replaced with personal need for instant pleasure and the need for instant satisfaction. People are in such a rush these days that “the moment” is too long, waiting is unacceptable and the desire for instant response makes patience a thing of the past.” We have discussed patience from the perspective of its reactive sense, that is how patience causes us to deal with things happening to us. Now we will consider the active side of patience.
This side of patience requires effort, service and a godly spirit. In Romans chapter 2 verses 5 through 10 Paul contrasts those whose hearts are hardened and impenitent and do not seek for truth to those who “by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality”. The first faces judgment, the second glory, honor and peace. Patient continuance.
If we are “patient continuance in doing good” then we are the ones who received the good seed of God’s word, and “…having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (Lk. 8:15). If we are “patient continuance in doing good” then we will “…lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before” (Heb. 12:1). These are active, purposeful and intentional acts that define us and keep us on track to see Heaven, and the Father. Christians understand the demands of patience, that it requires God’s children to be in constant service to God. In other words, not just Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday night. We all know the difference between a sprint and a marathon and the race set before us, we run with patience, endurance till Jesus comes or until our soul leaves this body for rest to await the Lord’s return.
Think about Paul’s marathon of patience. “23 …in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?” (2 Cor. 11:23-29). At the end of his life he was able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
Do you ever feel your zeal’s on empty? Do you sometimes feel as though your strength won’t carry you to the next day? Actively practicing patience / endurance is what enables us to press on. Our motivation is Heaven, Jesus, eternal life and our source for patience / endurance is God. Every battle, physical or spiritual takes its toll, but never forget it was tired to the bone, battle weary souls who win the victory. Our service to Christ in the war for the soul is no different. To Timothy Paul said, “11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue…patience…12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Tim. 6:11-12). The word Paul used for “pursue” [διώκω]-(dee-o’-ko) means to “seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire: Thayer’s”. To be active in patience / endurance is to be involved in the process.
A wonderful picture of patience is painted in the words of James 5:7 “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain”. We actively do all we can with patience knowing that after we do everything we can, we must patiently wait for God because even after we have everything within our power it is
“And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 3:4-5
God who makes the early and the latter rain fall. The fruit of spiritual service is not an instant product but requires our patiently working, our investment of time, and resources. What is at stake is our eternal salvation. We must with patience continue. How terribly tragic it is to do nothing, to give up, and in impatience squander what Christ shed His blood to achieve. We must “abide under” both the tribulations which come our way and the work we must do.
Remember the patience Isaac demonstrated with the herdsmen of Gerar (Gen. 26:17-33)? Isaac dug a well, the herdsmen of Gerar “quarreled” saying the water was theirs, Isaac called the well, “Esek” which means quarrel. Isaac digs another well, they quarreled again, and Isaac called the well, “Sitnah” which means, enmity. Then Isaac digs a third well and the herdsmen did not quarrel, and Isaac called it “Rehoboth”, which means, spaciousness, vast or ample. The Abimelech comes to make peace seeing that Isaac was “blessed of the Lord” (v.29), and that same day Isaac’s servants came to him telling of another well they dug, saying, “We have found water” (v.32), so he called this well, “Shebah”, meaning Oath or Seven, and the city is “Beersheba” (v.33), or well of the oath. Isaac’s active patience kept the peace, and he was indeed blessed of the Lord.
We each need to actively practice that kind of patience, endurance in dealing with others and in dealing with life realizing how we deal with trials and problems before us makes the difference between judgment and wrath, and eternal life and peace. “1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust’” (Psa. 91:1-2). Without God we have nothing to “abide under”. Is your joy dependent on self-gratification? Are you dependent upon your surroundings for pleasure instead of God and His grace? Indeed, it is the testing of your faith that produces patience, endurance (James 1:2-3).
Consider, God practiced patience for many years with Israel who would not listen (Neh. 9:30) and then, “…consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…” (2 Peter 3:15). Without active patience, endurance we will never realize the same joy that God prepared for His children who do actively serve Him.
In Love
dave
“11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.”
(Colossians 1:10-12)
Our faithful Creator is worthy to be praised in this assembly. All praise to Him who reigns above in majesty supreme! He gave His Son to die, for all mankind, that He might redeem all. Our blessed Redeemer suffered and died for our sins and is now risen and sitting at the right hand of God as Head of the church. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, knowing that He is the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:8-9) “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)
Times of Our Services
- Sunday Morning Bible Study 9:00 AM
- Sunday Morning Worship 9:50 AM
- Sunday Evening Worship 6:00 PM
- Wednesday Evening Bible Study 7:30 PM
What Must I Do to Be Saved?
- Hear the gospel—————————————– John 6:45; Romans 10:17
- Believe the gospel————————————– John 8:24; Hebrews 11:6
- Repent of sins—————————————— Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30
- Confess Christ—————————————— Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:10
- Be baptized——————————————— Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38
- Remain faithful unto and until death————— Revelation 2:10; Matthew 10:22