09/11/2022
How long are we capable of waiting on a promise before we begin to doubt in it? How long will our faith remain firm in God’s promises before at last we falter in our trust, and question Him? In today’s society we are not conditioned to be patient or long suffering, but patience is a virtue that God requires of us, and gives us. Neither are we taught true perseverance, and are unable to remain firm in our efforts, and to to serve Him for very long with only the promise of a reward, before our suffering wears on us, and we give up. But our God is faithful and true; His Word, and promise, is unwavering so we must teach ourselves through prayer and the reading of scripture, how to increase these virtues within ourselves, and how to suffer thankfully as we wait on Him… for He will provide, and His promise is even now being worked in His due time.
“And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.”
Hebrews 6:15 ESV
Abraham waited beyond what seemed reasonable for God’s promise to be fulfilled. Even for people of his time His wait seemed extreme, and the promise he had been given appeared to be impossible to accomplish, but in its perfect time God worked, Abraham’s promised child arrived, and he received what was promised. He had waited, and endured…
“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”
Hebrews 10:36 ESV
Do let’s revisit our questions today:
How long are we capable of waiting on a promise before we begin to doubt in it? How long will our faith remain firm in God’s promises before at last we falter in our trust, and question Him?
Do we know the answer to these questions? In fact, we might not be able to answer them truthfully unless we have prayed fervently for something, and then been made to wait, or suffered with only God’s promise to lean on as we endured the pain. Yet preparing ourselves to wait upon the Lord, and strengthening ourselves to face trials that require endurance, are prudent things to do. It is good to prepare for trials before we must face them in our lives.
“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”
Psalm 25:4-5 ESV
College football started its regular season yesterday and I watched two games. I watched the University of Alabama eke out a last second victory over the University of Texas, and I watched the University of Tennessee win in overtime against the University of Pittsburgh. Both of these games were won by unwavering perseverance, and in both instances the outcome required that the winning team trust in their skills, and wait. Winning games like these increases a team’s ability to wait and persevere, but learning the rudimentary elements of those virtues was done ahead of time in practice, and by watching other teams as they exhibited those traits.
Our ability to wait and persevere in faith are no different… we learn to wait from watching, and studying Abraham, and we learn perseverance by studying the life and suffering of Job. In this way we enter into the challenging times of our lives with an understanding of these virtues, and then build upon them further through our practice experience. So are we preparing ourselves to answer today’s questions? Are we ready to face the wait, or endure the suffering?
“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,”
Romans 5:2-4 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the times when we find ourselves waiting on you because they teach us patience, and thank you for the seasons of suffering in life because they strengthen our endurance. In this way we become firm in our faith, having been prepared to face the temptation of doubt as Abraham was, and the sifting of Satan like Job. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who prepares us for the troubles, temptations, and pain, that lies ahead of us in life. Praised be your name for every day we wait upon you, and every stripe we endure as we persevere in our belief. Merciful are you Lord who will not put more upon us than we are able to endure safely, nor ask us to wait beyond our ability, or your plan for us. We pray for your deliverance, and your strength as we face times such as these, but as our trials exceed our limits, and our faith is strengthened to its breaking point, we ask you to forgive us for any moments of failure, and doubt, we might experience. We ask that you renew us as we come to realize the growth of our belief, and become comfortable in it. Wash us in the blood of Jesus, cleanse us of sin, and begin preparing us once more for what lies ahead… whether it be the challenge, or the reward. Whichever it is, we know that one day it will culminate in our reward, and we look to that day with humble longing, and a firm confidence in its coming. Come quickly Lord Jesus, and to this end we wait, and endure today.
“He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”
Revelation 22:20-21 ESV
Rich Forbes