OCTOBER 9, 2024
READ: James 1 (Focus vs. 2-12)
MEMORY VERSE
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4
BACKGROUND
Bob Salem holds the speed record for pushing a peanut up Pike’s Peak with his nose—or rather, with a spoon attached to his face. He accomplished the feat in seven days, working at night to avoid interruption from tourists.
Bob is the fourth person to complete this stunt, which means three other very patient people have done it.
We might say their need for patience was self-inflicted, but so often in life that isn’t the case. We need patience. It’s a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and an essential virtue for becoming “mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4).
Patient people keep their heads when everyone around is in full panic. They’d like the situation to be different, but they don’t need it to be. They stay the course, trusting God for wisdom to act wisely (v. 5).
The problem with patience is there’s only one way to learn it. James says “the testing of your faith produces patience” (v. 3 nkjv). Such testing comes in ways big and small. I’m writing this from an airport. My 11:00 p.m. flight was delayed until 2:00 a.m., then canceled.
After a night without sleep, I’m chugging coffee and hoping to make it home sometime. I don’t like wasting an entire, drowsy day in an airport, but my loving Father is teaching me patience.
I pray my lesson is finished for the day, but who knows? Time to check the standby list for the next flight.
By: Mike Wittmer
INSIGHT
The words perseverance (hypomonē, James 1:3-4) and perseveres (hypomenō, v. 12) relate to a compound Greek word which means to “remain under.” What’s in view is “patient endurance,” “steadfastness,” “perseverance.”
In A New Testament Wordbook, William Barclay notes that hypomonē is “one of the noblest of NT words. . . . It is the quality which keeps a man on his feet with his face to the wind.”
Job exemplified this kind of steadfast endurance (see James 5:11). From another word group are similar words rendered “be patient” (makrothymeō) (vv. 7-8) or “patience” (makrothymia) (v. 10).
Church father John Chrysostom (ad 347-407) noted that this word describes the person “who is fully able to revenge himself but refuses to do so.”
By: Arthur Jackson
APPLICATION
How can you develop patience? Why is this virtue so important?
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
The problem with patience is there’s only one way to learn it…(through) “the testing of your faith… Patient people keep their heads when everyone around is in full panic. They’d like the situation to be different, but they don’t need it to be.”
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.” Joyce Meyer
“Patience can cook a stone” African Proverb
“Patience brings near that which is far.” Swahili Proverb
“…Impatience ruins strength.” Charles Colton – Adapted
PRAYER
“Father, please help me learn patience as I hold on to You and Your promises.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“TEACH ME LORD, LORD, TO WAIT” The Gaithers
Teach me Lord to wait down on my knees
Till in Your own good time You answer my pleas
Teach me not to rely on what others do
But to wait in prayer for an answer from You
They that wait upon the Lord,
Shall renew their strength
They shall mount up with wings as eagles
They shall run and not be weary
They shall walk and not faint
Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait
Teach me Lord to wait while hearts are aflame
Let me humble my pride and call on Your name
Keep my faith renewed, my eyes on Thee
Let me be on this earth what you want me to be
There′s a time and a season for all things
You promised in Your word to answer my pleas
I’m crying to You, Lord to grant sweet relief
Oh, Lord remove all my unbelief
They that wait upon the Lord
Shall renew their strength
They shall mount up with wings as eagles
They shall run and not be weary
They shall walk and not faint
Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait
Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait
Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait…
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE THIS YEAR (DAILY)
1 CORINTHIANS 6
