Sundays are supposed to be a time of rest. A time where man is supposed to take a time off from work to honour God. So far, I have'nt been very God-honouring at all.. My rest largely constitutes of gaming and sleeping, and now with upcoming Monday examinations... studying comes into the picture. I felt an urge to blog about this morning's sermon today, perhaps it stems from guilt, or perhaps God's hand is trying to nudge me along. Regardless, I feel what I am about to attempt is probably the most meaningful existence my blog will possess. And with enough faith and perseverance, I hope for it to continue weeks after.
Today Rev Quek touched on the topic of 'patience'. What exactly is patience? Someone once quoted,"Patience is to put up with someone who ought to be put down." (I sniggered at this quote lol) That is true, to a certain extent. But what does the bible have to say about patience?
James 5:7
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.
1) There are two aspects of patience to be learnt from this verse. Firstly, the patience in waiting for the Lord to deliver. Our cries and prayers are always heard, but God will answer them in His own time. We can pray for our closest friends and family to be saved, but sometimes it seems truly in vain and nearly impossible. We should take comfort in the fact that once a person is elected, he or she will definitely be saved in due time, with our constant prayers. I, for one, was a nearly impossible case :)
2) Secondly, be patient in our labour. At times we may slave and work like oxen ploughing fifty football fields, with knowledge that the owner is out of yummy hay. We may give up, and lose faith in our work, especially in the modern day context of immediate satisfaction. But we have to persevere, for we shall reap the fruits of our labours, God willing. All that mugging is definitely going to pay off, and no, just prayer without mugging leads nowhere. I don't think prayer counts as labouring...
James 5:8
Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
3) God will eventually call us up, whether by death or rapture. Our lot is to continue abiding by His word in this world, patiently waiting for the time to come.
James 5:9
Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
4) Be patient with one another. We are or not perfect, and there are bound to be times whereby someone has not only stepped on your toes, but squished it totally flat. Many of us have been hurt by a loved one, or even an inconsiderate friend. Be patient, for there are times when we have afflicted others as well, even strangers. If something of yours gets stolen, do not curse the thief, but pray for his repentance. Perhaps this theft is meant to teach YOU, or him, a lesson. God will forgive us of our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Well, I've come to the end of the little summary. Of course, there're much more to be gained from the actual sermon, for my little post may not be entirely accurate and contain parts of my own input and interpretation. I hope to continue writing every Sunday (or Monday) for both my own good, and for others. If you consider me a friend, please nudge me if it's not up by tuesday morning!