Introduction: There had
been great difficulty in Thessalonica, but the Thessalonians patiently endured.
The word endure means “to hold one’s
self up; to refuse to submit to the pressures of life.” It was a time of intense persecution for the
church and yet they were patient in the Lord. That simply means they were
steadfast in their stand and endured the difficulties with resolve. Life was
hard, but the Thessalonians had stood as individuals committed to the cause of
Christ. The story is told of an artist who went to visit an old friend. When he
arrived, she was weeping. He asked why. She showed him a beautiful handkerchief
that had great sentimental value, but which had been ruined by a spot of
indelible ink. The artist asked her to
let him have the handkerchief, which he returned to her by mail a few days
later. When she opened the package she could hardly believe her eyes. The
artist, using the inkblot as a base, had drawn on the handkerchief a design of
great beauty. Now it was more beautiful & more valuable than ever. Sometimes
the tragedies that break our hearts can become the basis for a more beautiful
design in our lives. Be patient with the hurts over which you have no control.
In God’s hands they may even become a source of healing, help, & beauty.
Blessings
Patience Brings: We live in a society of instant gratification. We are unaccustomed
to waiting for much of anything. This impatience has even found its way inside
the church. Let us know that Abraham waited 25 long years for the promised son,
Isaac? Moses spent 40 years on the backside of the desert, in the middle of
nowhere, preparing to lead God’s people, and then spent another 40 years
wandering in the desert. Surely God has great things in store for us, but we
must be patient and wait for Him to work in our midst. Apostle James in chapter
5: 7-19 exhorts believers to be patient until the Lord’s coming. Hebrews 12:1 tells us to "run with endurance" the race set
before us. Some of the greatest
missionaries of history devotedly spread the seed of God's Word and yet had to
wait long periods before seeing the fruit of their efforts. William Carey, for
example, laboured 7 years before the first Hindu convert was brought to Christ
in Burma, and Adoniram Judson toiled 7 years before his faithful preaching was
rewarded. In western Africa, it was 14 years before one convert was received
into the Christian church. In New Zealand, it took 9 years; and in Tahiti, it
was 16 years before the first harvest of souls began.
Conclusion: The Lord is full of pity and tender mercy. So, where is your patience? Are you always in
a hurry—even when God isn’t? Do all the work you can, and trust God for the
results. Jesus is coming back. Will you be patiently trusting in Him?
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