The Lord is Near in Suffering

Our Love for God

Love Songs That Glorify God

Praising God's Mighty Works

James 5:7-12 The Message (MSG)

7-8 Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time.
9 Friends, don’t complain about each other. A far greater complaint could be lodged against you, you know. The Judge is standing just around the corner.
10-11 Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That’s because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.
12 And since you know that he cares, let your language show it. Don’t add words like “I swear to God” to your own words. Don’t show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can’t be used against you.

For Reflection

If God is waiting for us to mature, then it must be that as a human species we are still growing into spiritual grace. Perhaps that is one of Job's insights understood from his suffering. Job and we don't just put up with life's pain, we learn and grow both individually and as a species.  Maybe we are all moving toward spiritual perfection, but some of us who obedient to the word move a bit more quickly and with a feeling of peace and joy.

Pray

Pray so that can say, "Yes!" to God's overture to grow in grace.  Pray so that you can witness to the promise of Jesus Christ.

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