PATIENT HOPE
By David Havard
By David Havard
Scripture Reading: I Thessalonians 1:3
If there is one area in which the Holy Spirit has to work overtime in my life, it is in the area of patience. It is one thing to hope in my Lord Jesus Christ, but it is quite another to hope patiently! You see, I have no hope or expectation in this world system. As Abraham, I acknowledge that I am a stranger and a pilgrim on earth. My citizenship is in Heaven. Hope? Yes. Patient hope? Well...
There are days when the cares of this present evil age press in so hard upon me that I have an impatient hope. Many times I find it hard to wait for the "glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). I am selfish enough to want Him to return right now! I identify with the Apostle Paul when he says that he would much rather depart and "be with Christ; which is far better" (Philippians 1:23)! Yet Paul had his personal desires postponed (Philippians 1:24-26) in order to minister to the saints. He willingly accepted this as God's will for his life. (Not a bad example!)
I am working on developing a patient hope. I am learning to view my world through God's perspective. Yes, I still have days when the Rapture is my deepest desire-to be with Him! I am also learning something of the longsuffering and patience of Cud to rebellious mankind (II Peter 3:9). The more I understand God's plan for the ages, and my small part in it, the more He enables me to be patient in hope! The more we understand God's secret purpose in Christ, as revealed through our Apostle Paul, the more easily we can say, as our' Lord, "Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22::.;t:2].
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