Tag: Patience

He patiently waits on us

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HIGHLIGHT

Isaiah 30:18 (ESV): 18 Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

EXPLAIN

Isaiah 30-31 warn God’s people of trusting in Egypt. Despite this warning, God told his prophet to write down in a book that his people were an eternally rebellious people.

The Israelites wanted to flee from their enemies to the safety of Egypt. But God said, “Wait!”

Isaiah 30:15 (ESV): “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

While Israel would not wait on God, but demanded immediate action, God said in verse 18 that he was waiting on them, waiting for the time when they would finally turn to him and receive his grace.

APPLY

So often we resemble the Israelites, stressed out by various cares and troubles in life. We get ahead of God, like a child impatiently running ahead of his parents, and then suddenly realizing he is lost. But when he returns, he finds his parents waiting patiently. And so God deals with us, demonstrating great grace once again.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me not to run ahead of you, failing to trust you with my life. Thank you for your great grace you shower upon me over and over. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Clothed with humility

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HIGHLIGHT

1 Peter 5:5 (ESV): 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

EXPLAIN

1 Peter 5 begins with instructions to the elders, to the pastors, of the churches receiving this letter. Peter instructed pastors to exercise oversight willingly, eagerly, being examples to the church.

Then Peter instructed those who were younger to be subject to the elders. Elders were often older in age to the rest of the church, but not necessarily. Timothy was an example of a pastor who was younger. Paul told Timothy not to be intimidated by those who were focusing on ideas and teachings that were destructive to their faith, but rather to lead the church as one skilled in the Word.

Regardless of age or office in the church, Peter commanded everyone to put on a certain type of clothing: humility toward one another. His exhortation was accompanied by a promise and a warning that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

APPLY

Reading God’s Word and writing down these thoughts, I am already dressed for the day. I have several more things to do to get ready, such as eating breakfast, preparing a lunch to go, getting the boys ready for school, etc., but I could virtually walk out the door now if necessary.

The question is: have I forgotten that essential piece of clothing, the spiritual clothing of humility expressed toward others?

If I leave home without that submission to the will of the Holy Spirit and determined patience with others, I can find myself in trouble quickly – being perturbed by little things, unwilling to listen and value the thoughts and positions of others, blinded by my own puffed-up importance.

Instead, I choose to don the garb of humility toward others, seeking to be patient with all, not deluded by thoughts of self-grandeur.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, may I imitate Christ in my attitudes, thoughts, and actions today. Help me to display humility as Christ was humble. In Jesus’ name, Amen.