19th November 2024

19th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 5v7-8)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Do you remember what your granny always used to say? Patience is a virtue! Perhaps your granny didn’t ever say such words but that doesn’t take away the truth of the statement. Patience is indeed a virtue. What is patience? Patience is defined as “the capacity for calmly enduring pain and trying situations." In the case of his listeners, James knew that they were enduring all kinds of difficultly and would continue to do so. There is no “golden age” for the church of Jesus Christ, God’s people will know trouble until He returns. How can I be sure? For Jesus has said “in this world you will have trouble.” (John 16v33)


Therefore, the Christian is to be marked by and known for their patience. The child of God understands that the Lord is coming back (v7b) and so in light of this certainty they are to quietly endure whatever situations they face. To underline his point, James used the image of a farmer. The farmer sows the seed and then he sets about patiently waiting (v7c). It would be a foolish farmer who plants a seed in the morning and expects a bountiful crop before bed. Instead, the wise farmer waits for the harvest, understanding that his work takes time. I am no farmer but I have read that James uses an image here from his own local setting with farmers waiting for the early rains which fell at some stage between October and January, then the late rains which fell around Easter. Both rains were necessary for a bumper crop.


In the same way, Christians are to be patient with hearts well established on the Gospel (v8). Jesus has been crucified for sin, dead in a tomb, raised again to life and surely returning. These are not bare theological statements but the sure basis of our faith. Brothers and sisters, consider the truth of Christ every single day. Set your gaze upon heaven. Rest in Christ as you have received Him in the Gospel. He is coming and that right soon!


But how soon is soon? Are these the last days? The last days started as the Lord ascended to heaven and they will come to a close at His return. None of us can know the day or the hour of the Lord’s return and it is a fool who tries to predict an exact timescale. Even so, James could speak about the Lord’s return being at hand (v8b) and so it is. Will Jesus return in my lifetime? Maybe so. Does humanity have another two thousand years? Perhaps. I offer you no date to write in your diary, instead I urge you to be ready for Christ’s return. To the unsaved I say, repent of your sin and put your faith in Christ - be ready! To my fellow Christians I counsel, be patient, establish your hearts for Christ is on His way.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q39 What is the duty which God requireth of man? The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.
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