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THE PATIENCE PRINCIPLE

Dear brothers and sisters, you must be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who eagerly look for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They patiently wait for the precious harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. – James 5:7-8 (NLT)

            The fact of the Lord’s return is a promise repeated often in the New Testament. The time of that return is not specified. We who have dedicated our lives to Christ yearn for that day when He comes back to take us to be with Him forever. This intense longing has tugged at the hearts of believers since Jesus first ascended into heaven. We look to the sky and ask, “Perhaps today, Lord? Perhaps today?” Yet, we end each day with the awareness that He has not yet come for us.

            Our waiting for Jesus’ return is not a cause for doubt or alarm, but a reminder of the need for patience as we wait for the fulfillment of God’s promise. The farmer waits for his crops to mature, yet his waiting does not move the process along any more swiftly. He patiently endures knowing that his reward will eventually come. The same is true for us. A day is coming when justice will be fully restored, heaven will be our home, and we will dwell with God forever. Until that day comes, we continue to wait and look forward to what has been promised.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord, I’m ready whenever You are.  Until You come, I will continue to serve.