Because thou hast kept the word of my patience....
The Gospel; so called because it gives an account of
the patience of Christ, in the midst of all his outward meanness and
humiliation; and because it is a means of implanting and increasing the grace
of patience, which God is the efficient cause of, and Christ is the example of;
that patience, which bears a resemblance to his, in enduring afflictions,
reproaches, persecutions, desertions, and temptations, and in waiting for his
kingdom and glory; and because both the preachers and professors of the word
have need of patience, and should exercise it in like manner as Christ did.
This word, the churches, in the Philadelphian state, will keep pure and
incorrupt, and observe the ordinances of it according to the directions given
in it; and will believe the promise of Christ's personal coming, and patiently
wait for it: John Gill
I am acutely aware of the Lord dealing
with me about patience. It is coming about
in my life and heart in various ways, all at once. He has my attention. There are several things I have been waiting
on; these are not just things that are hoped for in the way of unanswered
prayer, but concrete things that have been just out of my reach. Up until now, it has been a little bit of a
struggle to wait for these things to come to pass. But now, there is a real need and it is still
out of my reach. I thought there was an
end date, and my heart was holding on until then...but that too was pushed
further out...like the horse being urged on with a carrot dangling just out of
reach.
This is rather painful in a way, It has causes me to ask “why Lord”? I know you are good; I know you have a
purpose in all things. The proverbial,
so close and yet so far. As I was in
study, I read the above verse and commentary.
The Lord Himself has been in a place of patience for 6000 years. His Kingdom was promised, and delayed. Messiah had to patiently endure in the flesh,
all the afflictions of life in this world...holy and pure, until injustice, insurrection
and hate would see Him put to death in the worst way.
He had to patiently submit to the Father’s will, For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross,
disregarding its shame; He did this for
us, that we might be saved and made new; He did this so we could live with Him,
in His Kingdom and enjoy Him forever, to see His Glory and be His people. The
Lord Jesus is still waiting...
So the Lord asks us to wait patiently...to endure; through
trials and sufferings; through want and heartbreak. God is faithful who promised. He is the One who supplies all of our needs
according to His riches in Glory. With the
Lord it is “Yes” and “amen”. But when we
are waiting for test results, or word on a job; if we are waiting for the
loan to go through or the judges ruling... whatever we are waiting on, no
matter how agonizing it may seem...we must remember, God is faithful.
He is the Sovereign ruler of all Creation and He is in
control...we are so small we feel like He doesn’t notice our comparatively
insignificant problems...(which are huge to us). But Jesus assured us, if the Father is aware
of every little sparrow, the most common (insignificant) little bird...that it
should have food, protection...if it fall to its death, God sees. How much more does He regard His own
children...we of little faith.
Heb 12:3
Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself,
so that you may not grow weary in your souls and lose heart.
Let us not despair and let go of our faith when we are
in times of pressing , considering our Lord and Father to be disinterested in
our affairs, lest we think He is uncaring... for we are tried in this life to
prove our faith, to see if we will endure, to know that it is true...
Mat 13:20 “The one
sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately
receives it with joy. 13:21
Yet he has no root himself but lasts only a short while; and when
trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.
Jas 1:12 Happy is the one who endures testing, because
when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which the
Lord promised to those who love Him.
The greatest thing we must patiently endure for, is
Yeshua’s coming. Do not let the hype and
“prophecies” and explanations discourage you from hoping for and watching for
His coming. He will come! Just as He said. Be diligent to guard your heart not to fall
into unbelief or become so discouraged you abandon your hope and become
complacent.
2Ti 4:8 Now there is laid up for me the crown
of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at
that Day; and not to me only, but also to all those who love His appearing.
Heb 12:1b-2
So let us run with endurance the race set before us, focusing on Yeshua,
the initiator and perfecter of our faith and He has taken His seat at the right
hand of the throne of God.
Maranatha
loved ones...
