More Patience.!?!?

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. (I Thessalonians 5:14)

Here is that word again, patient, usually when God repeats something to me it means he is trying to get me to work on something, or trying to tell me something. I left for Phoenix yesterday (Wednesday, March 3rd), and could have made it into Phoenix tonight, but decided to stop about 50 miles east of Flagstaff and get a room for the night. I thought it would be good to spend some time in the word before we go head-long into Cassie’s wedding, plus Allen arrived from Iraq today and I wanted to allow the kids to have some personal time.

So I got into my room, got everything setup and opened my journal to this scripture. I’m asking, “Ok God what are you trying to tell me?” Then I read the verses before the 14th.

(Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.) (I Thessalonians 5:12-13)

Paul here is telling the church body to recognize the emerging leaders in their church, to honor the true leaders who are working hard and who are governing to serve, they are not only presiding over the church but they are also protecting the church. They both corrected moral and scriptural errors in the church. They were to be honored, not for their high position in the church but for their work. Live peacefully, this topic was the focus of much of the teaching at this time, harmony and peace between the leaders and believers was of extreme importance because of the persecution going on.

Then we get to verse 14, the focus of my devotion today. The message to me here in this verse is that the moral development of the church community is not the sole responsibility of the church leaders. Here Paul urged us to warn the lazy (those who were being disorderly), and did not live according to the apostles’ instructions. Paul also instructs us to “take care of those who are weak,” meaning those who have no social or economic power, the Greeks ridiculed the weak. Be patient instead of irritable, as believers we should be patient in all our relationships. (Read Galatians 5:23 and Ephesians 4:2)

These two scriptures, on patience, are talking about two kinds of patience, on is waiting for something or on someone to do something, the second, today’s devotion, is talking about being kind to someone, to encourage and help those who need help, praise those who need praising and encourage those who are in need of encouragement. Both are needed from everyone in the church, both leaders and believers. After all we are the body of Christ.

Most Patient Father, allow us to live according to your plan for our lives and the life of the Church. Help us to live according to your timetable and with the peace and loving patience that you have shown us Father. When we are tempted to be in a hurry or become short with someone remind us of who we belong to, remind us of the patience you have shown us, and the price you have paid for us. Father please make us patient Christians, help us to trust in you and your master plan. Father give us eyes to see when we can be of assistance to our church leaders, and then to strength and courage to provide that help. We know Father that you are our only hope, if we are not willing to devote time and energy into your kingdom here and now, what hope is there for us. Lord we need your strength and your patience to live Godly lives now, to focus on promoting Your kingdom now. Please give us that strength and patience. We pray this in the name of your Son our example of your patience, Jesus Christ. Amen.