2024-08-30
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Patience and judgment are opposites. When a believer is patient, he is filled with the Holy Spirit. He measures his words carefully and remains peaceful most of the time. One might ask, “Was Jesus patient when He knocked over the tables of the moneychangers in front of the temple, in MT 21: 12?” Jesus knows to choose His battles wisely. This practice was a severe affront to the Father, a act of disrespect that had to be brought to the attention of the people. One didn’t see Christ losing His temper, running his mouth, and getting out of control very often. This was a case where disrespect of the righteousness He modeled had to be met with sharp and immediate action. We know that our Lord took a lot of disrespectful words from the Pharisees and others, who refused to believe Who He is, even to the point of saying nothing when being questioned during that kangaroo court that was presided over just before His crucifixion. IS 53: 7, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.”
On the other hand, behavior which is opposite consists of snap judgments regarding others, normally based on very little knowledge and very little control of one’s temper. Hurtful words are often said in such instances, words which cannot be retracted, unless a genuine apology is offered once the judge calms down and the behavior is not repeated. We are urged not to put to put a stumbling block in another’s way [1 COR 8: 12, 1 COR 10: 10: 32; 1 JN 2: 10]. If one studies the Scriptures, he will come across RO 14: 13, “Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” We are told that Consider RO 3: 23, “…For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” MT 7: 1-2, [Christ’s words] “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measurement you use, it will be measured to you.” MT 7: 3-5 talks about not noticing the log in our own eye, while seeing the speck in your brother’s eye. We are advised to first remove the log in our own eye before trying to remove the speck from our brother’s eye. Yet another verse, MT 6: 23, talks about if the eyes are unhealthy, darkness is caused in the body.
There is such a thing as a negative self-fulfilling prophecy. This is the sorry condition of a negative and judgmental thinker. He expects the worst and looks for it in others. When he loses his temper, which happens often, he not only doesn’t get cooperation, but he runs his mouth with disrespect, foul language, and ends up saying things he is likely to regret. This is the characteristic “ready, fire, aim” situation! Our Lord Jesus set the example of the opposite. He spoke when it was appropriate and stayed silent when it wasn’t. The Greek words for “patience with mercy” is “makrothumia” and for “to pass judgment upon” is “krino.” We get an excellent reveal of the Father’s character in this matter, in 2 PET 3: 9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
The question arises: “Why should we be patient, gain self-control, and not judge others?” We can go back to DN 7: 13-14 to see a prophecy in one of Daniel’s visions that helps answer that question. “In my vision at night I looked and there before me was One like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshipped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His Kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel is a very interesting book that gives us glimpses into our future that allow us to better understand the Father’s will. Yet another example is when Daniel had been praying for 21 days and the archangel Michael appeared to him after that long. He not only instructed Daniel not to worship an angel in DN 10: 10-11 but gave Daniel (and us) a glimpse into the unseen spiritual warfare that delayed this answer between the dark prince of Persia and himself [DN 10: 12-21]. Moreover, Daniel’s patience and perseverance in prayer was rewarded by the news that he was highly esteemed.
PRAYER: O Most Holy Lord, in JN 15: 5, You make it clear that we must be obediently faithful (connected) to You to live righteously and be effective in our lives. Without You, we can do nothing; without Your Spirit, we can’t understand the things we need so desperately to know. Where patience is concerned, we must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and help us to renew our minds and control our mouths. JAS 3: 5-6, “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body that makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest fire is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” Such lessons as we read here, are demonstrations of the love You have for us. We offer You thanks and praise for the patience You have with us and the love You show us every day. In the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: As we contemplate having patience and controlling what we say to others, I can’t resist talking just a bit more about the book of Daniel and the example Christ is to us. I haven’t forgotten to discuss humility either; but that is a topic for another day. It’s a part of this sub-topic on the gifts of the Holy Spirit from GA 5: 22-23. Our loving God wants us to be peaceful, joyful, loving, patient, faithful, good, kind, gentle (humble), and have self-control. He relates stories in the Bible to teach us all these things. And, how blessed we are that He does! Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2024. All Rights Reserved.
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