2024-06-21
Good Morning Dear Ones,
As a reminder, let me begin with GA 5: 22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (humility), and self-control. Against these things there is no law.” This is the foundation passage for this lengthy series of messages that the Holy Spirit has been giving us. Today, we need to look at patience and humility as God sees or doesn’t see in His human creation. Last week, I cited JOB 19: 25-27 and will repeat it here: “I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end, He will stand on the earth. After my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. I myself will see Him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” For those who have not read the book of Job, this man of faith went through the most horrific losses, illnesses, and trials one can imagine. These were the result of a bet the evil one makes with God that he can cause Job to lose his faith. To make matters worse Job’s friends try to advise him throughout his trials, and all they see is God only either rewards or punishes people, which couldn’t be farther from the truth. Since the book has 42 chapters, by the time Job is at chapter 19 (above) he is well into the trials that he is made to face. We are already getting a view of what kind of patience and humility Job has.
We have been given every bit of what we need to know to have a good idea of God’s attributes and deeds. That was promised to us in, JN 15: 13-17. We have also been given these further promises, in 1 JN 3: 1-3, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are. The reason that the world doesn’t know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be, has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He s pure.” [See also, COL 3: 3-4]. What does purify mean? Certainly, we can begin by saying it means demonstrating out of habit the gifts of the Holy Spirit. A purified person is one who endures through trials, just as Job did. At times, we wonder why God allows these challenges in our lives, which we see as plagues and He sees as opportunities for us to learn our need to rely on Him and mature spiritually, as well as in other ways. We also wonder why God seems to allow some people to be more challenged than others, like the family I know who have all dealt with cancer. But we must remember what we know about God’s grace, from EPH 2: 8-10. Let’s focus in on v. 10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God already prepared for us to do.” This means he has given each of us a skillset designed to do a specific task for Him [RO 12: 6-8]. Our job is to find it and to do it. There is spiritual maturity to be gained in the process of discovery. How we do that task, our attitude and interaction with others, matters. For example, RO 12: 16, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” This also applies to interactions with those in higher positions, as well. If you find yourself in a toxic work environment, or there are problems with your boss, first ask yourself if there is anything you can do to make the situation better. If not, then, don’t remain indefinitely in that situation. If you work for God, then know you have the most perfect “Boss” and see what you can do to improve your performance and relationship. [See also, DT 29: 9].
Some further thoughts about those people or families that seem more challenged than usual: 1 COR 1: 27, “But God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong.” 1 COR 10: 24, “Let no one seek his own good, but the good but the good of others.” COL 3: 12-13, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you.” It’s entirely possible that God is challenging these people in preparation for more important leadership responsibilities in heaven or an important lesson He wants to teach us while on earth.
We are being commanded to have greater patience and endurance, rather than to throw up our hands and give up [GA 6: 9]. We must have perseverance as is discussed in HE 12: 1-3, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him Who endured such opposition from sinner, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
PRAYER: O Lord, You do so much more in our lives than simply reward and punishment. Our relationship with You matters tremendously to You because of the love You have for us. You want as many of us as possible to have a healthy, copasetic relationship with You. There are many of us who disappoint You with our sinfulness and usurping of Your rights. PS 139: 23-24 expresses our desire. “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” We acknowledge Your wonderful attributes and deeds, the love You have for us, and Your unparalleled wisdom. Thanksgiving and praise to You forever, for these and so much more. This prayer is said in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: According to the Holy Spirit, I am to write more about humility and patience next week. In the meanwhile, read HE 12: 1-3 again to mine more of the precious gems from it. God wants us to be in a relationship that is rich, close, and dynamic with Him. This includes frequent prayer and listening in His “shelter,” [PS 91: 1-2] growing love in His word, healthy relationships vertically with Him and horizontally with others, service to Him and others, willingness to share both the Gospel and our testimonies with others, inviting Him into our homes and allowing Him leadership in our lives. The rewards of this lifestyle are huge. Thanks and praise be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2024. All Rights Reserved.dd
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