Patience

 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
James 5:7-9 (KJV)

Today is the day, according to the ancient Mayans, that the world will end. Do I believe this? Not likely. However, I was thinking about the day when Jesus will return. Maybe today, maybe before you finish reading this article. I don't know the day or date of the return of Jesus, but I do know that we must be ready. In James 5:7-9, we see three things that we must do as we wait for the coming of Jesus.

Verse 7 tolls us "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain." As we wait upon the return of our Lord, we must (1) Be Patient. It's been almost 2000 years since Jesus returned to Heaven. Many people look at the Gospel of Jesus, and the promise of His return, as a myth, a story. Why? Because they lack patience. James is liking our wait for the return of Jesus as that of a farmer waiting for the crops to produce. There is really nothing we can do to "speed up" a plant to produce it's fruit. Jesus will return at the time specified from the Father, and we must wait for it-patiently.

Verse 8 says, "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." In addition to being patient, we must (2) establish our hearts to the things of God. Patience does that. Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Patience establishes your heart on the things of God. That is where, after all, our treasure should be-in the things of God. 

Verse 9 says, "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door." Finally, (3) don't grudge. Don't scoff at the return of Jesus. In doing so, you'll destroy someone else's patience. When I worked in a fast food restaurant, you can clearly see the impatience of some people. When some customer would start complaining that we were not quick enough, you can see the other customers becoming uncomfortable at the situation. The same principle applies here. If you grudge and complain about your circumstances, about why Jesus hasn't return or answered your prayer your way, others will be affected. 

Patience helps lines up our heart with the things of God. Once our heart is lined up, then we will be able to keep complaining out of the life. Think About It.