Advent-Christmas Devotions
Friday, December 12
James 5:7-10
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Brothers and sisters, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
“… 7 Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. …”
In the movie “Evan Almighty”, God (Morgan Freeman) asks the wife of Evan (Lauren Graham), “Do you think that when folks pray for patience, God gives them patience? Or does God give them opportunities to be patient?”
Waiting for the Lord is an opportunity to be patient. It is also a lesson in patience. After all, when Jesus is to return is a mystery. According to Jesus, only the Father knows the day and hour. Therefore, we must wait. While waiting can be tough, it is also an opportunity to practice patience with ourselves, our neighbors, our community, and our world.
Rather than anxiety about what is happening around us, we can turn our trust to the Lord. Instead of fretting, we can respond faithfully to the hope, peace, and life promised by God. We can choose to see the light which shines amidst the darkness rather than focusing entirely on gloom and doom. We can hold fast to the love revealed in the child in the manger over against the hatred and animosity spewed by trolls, bots, politicians, and pundits.
Advent is an opportunity to practice the patient waiting the Lord demands. May you discover the patience to hear God’s Word, trust God’s promises, and bask in the love God offers this Advent season.
Prayer: Gracious Lord, you call us to wait for Your coming. Thank You for the opportunities to practice patience this Advent season. Amen.