Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. (James 5:7-10)
The bumper sticker sums up how many of us feel: God, I want patience and I want it NOW! Does that describe you? Advent is a season of patience. Imagine how your children or grandchildren feel about the coming of Christmas. Nellie and I have grandchildren of the age who are "working on their wish list." They go online and decide which toy they want us and their aunts and uncles to get for them. Remember laying on the floor with your siblings fighting page by page over the Sears catalog? If you do, you're old like me! ;)
Patience is what distinguishes farmers from weekend growers like me. A farmer knows to wait for the right time for the right step in the cultivation and growth of his/her crop. We must have patience like them. We also must have strong hearts for the coming of the Lord. Our strength comes from the Lord through our daily practice of reading the Bible, praying, reading this devotional, telling others about this devotional, worship, singing and helping others. And strength and peace also come with our being in peace with each other. Indeed, as the writer says, "The judge is standing at the doors," meaning that the Lord watches our every action and thought; how better for Him to see us than people of long suffering and patience, just like those ancient prophets of God.
PRAYER: Loving God, fill me with Your strength and peace. As I open the catalog of today, help me choose wisely that gift that will bless You and Yours. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
