Scripture Reading(s)
James 5:7-10
5:7 Be patient, therefore, beloved, 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.
5:8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
5:9 Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!
5:10 As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Reflections
Being patient is not something that comes naturally to us. The author is telling us that during the Christian life we are going to face some hard and pressing times. However, our hope and reason to keep pressing on, is being reunited with Jesus Christ one day. Christ will come back to take us to be with Him in heaven; until that day comes we are called to wait patiently and expectantly even in the midst of life’s trying circumstances.
The message of this passage is to keep trusting and exercising our faith that God will not only bring us out of our trial but will one day put an end to all trials, when we are taken to be with Him. This passage is also a call to not waste our time with trivial things that will hinder us from growing deeper in our relationship with God. Allowing for the things of this life to overtake our minds, distracts us from living each day with a joy and hunger for God.
The coming of the Lord draws nearer each day. We must keep your eyes focused on that promise and live each day for His glory. His intention for us is to keep trusting more in Him each day. The more we desire to grow, the more our eyes will be taken off of what this earth holds and onto Him and His love for us.
When I read verse 9;
Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!
The only thought that come to mind is the old saying;
is that what you wanna get caught doing when jesus comes back?!
I know I am not the only child who heard this question. As much as we might have sneered at this line when we were children, as adults it probably makes a bit more sense. What will I be doing when the Lord returns? Will Jesus come back to see me working hard to help the poor, the needy, or the lost? Will He return to a me treating others with love and kindness? Or will He return and see me doing the work that He left for us?
I know that I want to be caught doing the Lord’s work when He returns. A person who does that can be like the farmer in verse 7 of this passage, who waits eagerly and patiently. Those who spend their lives sinning against the Lord will not be excited when He returns.